The ethanol steam reforming was studied at 500 and 600 degrees C on CoZnAl catalysts with different Co loading (9 and 25 wt.%) and a Zn:Al atomic ratio nearly constant (Zn:Al congruent to 0.6). The catalysts were prepared by the citrate sal-gel method and characterized by different techniques such as AA, TG, BET, TPR, XRD, RAMAN and SEM-EDX. They were active in the ethanol steam reforming at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range studied, but with significant differences in their performance. High hydrogen selectivities, better than 80%, were obtained on catalyst with high Co loading (25 wt.%). CO, CO2 and minor amount of CH4 were the only carbon products at 600 degrees C. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.