The study focuses on the regenerability of bifunctional catalysts prepared with different metallic functions (CuZnOAl(2)o(3) and CuFe2O4 spinet) and HZSM-5 zeolite (SiO2/Al2O3 = 30) as the acid function. These catalysts have been employed for H2 production in the steam reforming of dimethyl ether in a fluidized bed reactor, operating in reaction-regeneration cycles. The regeneration of the catalysts was carried out by combustion in air (at 315 or 500 degrees C) of the deposited coke, in order to establish: i) the coke combustion temperature required for recovering the activity of the metallic and acid functions; and ii) the kinetic behavior of the catalysts after removing the coke deposited-on the metallic function and after the complete removal of coke. At 315 degrees C only the coke deposited on the metallic sites is burned, whereas 500 degrees C is required to remove the coke deposited on the zeolite. The catalyst with CuFe2O4 spinet metallic function exhibits higher stability and allows operating uninterruptedly under reaction-regeneration cycles, since it recovers its activity after regeneration at 500 degrees C. The catalyst with CuZnOAl2O3 metallic function, which is more active than the Cu-Fe spinet for the dymethyl ether steam reforming, deactivates irreversibly at 500 degrees C due to Cu sintering. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.