Ni-Cu catalysts supported on different materials were tested in ethanol steam reforming reaction for hydrogen production. These catalysts were evaluated at reaction temperature of 400 degrees C under atmospheric pressure. The reagents, with a water/ethanol molar ratio equal to 10, were fed at 70 dm(3)/(h g(cat)) (after vaporization). Analysis of the ethanol conversion, as well as evaluation and quantification of the reaction products, indicated the catalyst 10% Ni-1% Cu/Ce(0.6)Zr(0.4)O(2) as the most appropriate for the ethanol steam reforming under investigated reaction conditions, among the studied catalysts. During 8 h of reaction this catalyst presented an average ethanol conversion of 43%, producing a high amount of H(2) by steam reforming and by ethanol decomposition and dehydrogenation parallel reactions. Steam reforming, among the observed reactions, was quantified by the presence of carbon dioxide. About 60% of the hydrogen was produced from ethanol steam reforming and 40% from parallel reactions. (C) 2009 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.