Supported platinum catalysts containing 1.2% Pt loaded on Al2O3 (1.2% Pt/Al2O3) and 1.9% Pt loaded on ZrO2 (1.9% Pt/ZrO2) were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and sol-gel method, respectively. The activity of these catalysts in the partial oxidation of ethanol (POE) was examined in a fixed-bed reactor in a temperature range between 373 and 473 K. The results indicated that significant ethanol conversion (C-EtOH > 50%) was found at the low reaction temperature with a feed ratio of O-2/EtOH ratio > 0.75. Oxygen molecules introduced in reactant were completely consumed in POE reactions performed. H-2, H2O, CO and CO2 were the major products detected. The selectivity of hydrogen (S-H2) and CO (S-CO) varied significantly with reaction conditions. High selectivity of hydrogen (S-H2 > 95%) and low selectivity of CO (S-CO similar to 0%) were found from a mild oxidation at T-R = 373 K over Pt/ZrO2. However, these two selectivities were drastically deteriorated through oxidation at high TR, high O-2/EtOH ratio or over Pt/Al2O3 catalyst. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.