Ni-MgO catalysts with varying Ni/Mg ratios were prepared by co-precipitation and tested in sorbitol hydrogenolysis. At 473 K and 4 MPa H-2, the best catalyst with Ni/Mg ratio of 3:7 exhibited 67.8% conversion and 80.8% total selectivity of ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol and glycerol. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, CO2-TPD and H-2 chemisorption, revealing that the activity depended strongly on the basicity and Ni surface area. The reaction conditions were optimized, which were relatively mild for this chemoselective conversion. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.