The precious metal nanocatalysts (Rh, Ru, Pt, Ir) prepared over promoted Al2O3 with MgO were evaluated in steam reforming of glycerol for the production of hydrogen. Different characterization techniques (TEM, SEM, BET, TPR, TPO and H2S chemisorption) were employed to determine the physicochemical properties of the prepared samples. The chemisorption of H2S showed the crystallite sizes of the active metals were in the range of 1.28-4.2 nm. The catalytic results indicated that among the prepared catalysts, Rh and Pt possessed the highest activity in C3H8O3 steam reforming and Rh catalyst showed the highest stability with time on stream. (C) 2017 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.