CuO-ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts modified with magnesium oxide and boron oxide were prepared by impregnation．XRD，XPS，BET and TPR methods were used to characterize the distribution and chemical configuration of CuO impregnated on the catalyst．The results show that the surface area of catalysts increased with boron oxide added，and that boron oxide acted as structural promoter and electron promoter in CuO-ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts．Boron oxide could modify the interaction between copper oxide and the supporter，which is conducive to the disperse of copper oxide and stability of Cu species in defect of electron．The disperse of copper oxide on the catalyst increased with magnesium oxide added. With a weight loading of 6% of CuO in the catalyst which modified with boron oxide the conversion rate of glycerol was up to 100%，whereas the selectivity for 1，2-propanediol was over 94%．