CuO-ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts supported on alumina was prepared by impregnation. XRD, XPS and TPR methods were used to characterize the distribution and chemical forms of CuO and ZnO impregnated on the catalyst. The results showed that copper oxide was the main active component, zinc oxide acted as a promoter in CuO-ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts. ZnO could modify the interaction between copper oxide and the supporter to reduce the reduction temperature of copper oxide. Hence, the hydrogenolysis performance for glycerol of the catalysts was improved. The Cu species in defect of electron was the hydrogenolysis active sites for the hydrogenolysis of glycerol. With a weight loading of 12% of CuO and Cu/Zn molar ratio of 1:1.5 in the catalystst. The conversion of glycerol was up to 97.82%, whereas the selectivity for 1,2-propanediol was nearly to 94%.