Powdered beech wood was heated for 15 min in anhydrous glycerol containing alkaline catalyst (sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide) and completely converted into liquid products and water -soluble chemicals at 543 K and atmospheric pressure. The most important reaction variables were temperature and weight of the catalyst. The yield of total water-insolubles was 67.4% from beech wood in the presence sodium carbonate at an average temperature of 543 K. 78.2% of lignin in original wood was delignified in the presence 10.0% sodium hydroxide catalyst at 498 K, and a residence of 10 h.