Various applications for carbon nano-filaments (CNF), such as polymer additives, gas storage materials and catalyst supports have recently been reported. The present work focuses on the catalytic properties of carbon nano-filaments, as produced through the catalytic dry reforming of ethanol, using low-carbon steel as the catalyst. It has been quantitatively demonstrated that these carbon nano-filaments have high catalytic activity in respect of the ethanol dry reforming and cracking reactions. Iron carbide particles, encapsulated in the CNF, are shown to be the active agents possessing the observed catalytic properties. The exact reaction mechanism of this process is still unknown. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.