A process for the production of dioxolane compounds of formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 independently represent hydrogen or an alkyl chain from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R3 and R4 independently represent hydrogen, an alkyl chain from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or an alkyl chain from 1 to 5 carbon atoms which is endowed with one or more hydroxyl groups, such process comprising a reaction between crude glycerol and an aldehyde or a ketone, with a molar ratio of aldehyde:glycerol or ketone:glycerol from 3:1 to 20:1.