A　general　method　to　heterogenize,　stabilize　and　significantly　enhance　the　activity　of　selective　visible　light　photocatalysts　for　aerobic　oxidation　of　glycerol　is　devised.　The　new　method　makes　use　of　the　sol-gel　encapsulation　of　photocatalytic　species　in　silica-based　matrices　to　afford　leach-proof　catalysts　capable　to　afford　valued　products　at　low　cost　with　little　or　no　waste　generation.　In　particular,　the　photocatalytic　selective　conversion　of　glycerol　is　performed　in　water　solvent　under　ambient　conditions　with　molecular　oxygen　as　oxidant　and　visible　light　as　the　driving　energy　source,　thereby　meeting　all　requirements　for　a　green　chemical　process.　Entrapment　of　the　semiconductor-based　photocatalyst　inside　the　transparent　porous　silica　matrix　enhances　substrate　adsorption,　thus　improving　its　local　concentration　and　favoring　reaction　with　the　photogenerated　active　species.　©　2014　The　Partner　Organisations.