Gold catalysts were extensively studied in the selective oxidation of ethanol into acetic acid and ethyl acetate. Gold supported on titania was found to be the most promising catalysts, demonstrating the low temperature (120oC) catalytic activity even in the gas phase. Reaction kinetics and structure sensitivity were investigated. Gold catalysts were successfully applied in the selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furan-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) via aldehyde group transformation. Mechanism of the reaction was proposed. Selective oxidation of sugars over gold was described in detail. Aqueous-phase reactions of different sugar units were investigated at low temperature. Biomass-derived lignan hydroxymatairesinol (HMR) was converted over gold catalysts with complete selectivity into another industrially valuable lignan via the reaction of secondary alcohol selective oxidation. Valorization of glycerol by selective oxidation over gold catalyst was described in numerous studies. Influence of the support, gold particle size, bimetallic Au catalysts, and base as well as reaction kinetics was investigated. Reaction mechanism was proposed, where the role of oxygen was addressed.