The performances of different catalysts xCu10Ce and xCu10Ce10Al (with x = 1, 3 and 5) in the steam reforming of methanol reaction were studied with and without the presence of zinc. The reaction was investigated at 350 degrees C with a Gas Hourly Space Velocity of 15,500 h(-1) and a steamed mixture of water and methanol (H2O/CH3OH = 2). The catalytic activity was found to be strongly dependent on the nature of the copper species present on the support and on the nature of the support. The addition of ZnO is beneficial to the solid 5Cu1OCe and promotes interaction between Cu-Ce-O eventually leading to the reduction of Cu2+ to Cu+ and Cu-0 the most active species in the SRM reaction. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.