Tuning the basicity of Cu-based mixed oxide catalysts towards the efficient conversion of glycerol to glycerol carbonate

•A series of Cu based mixed oxides with different molar ratios has been prepared through a simple co-precipitation method.•The synthesized mixed oxides were characterized by using XRD, UV–Vis spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, N2 sorption, CO2-TPD and XPS techniques.•The mixed oxides showed remarkably high catalytic activity towards the efficient conversion of glycerol to glycerol carbonate.•The highest catalytic activity was observed over the MAC-0.6 catalyst with glycerol conversion of 96.4% and glycerol carbonate (GC) yield of 91.2%.•The strong basic sites were attributed due to the addition of Cu2+ cations in the MgAl (O) periclase that enhanced the transesterification activity.