A series of Ni/MgO catalysts have been prepared by a urea-nitrate combustion method, studied for the ethanol steam reforming, and compared with Ni/ZnO and Ni/Al2O3. The results show that Ni/MgO is superior to the latter two types of catalysts, especially in terms of H-2 yield. Influential factors, including Ni loading, temperature, water-to-ethanol molar ratio, and liquid hourly space velocity, are investigated with the Ni/MgO catalyst. The conversions are always complete at temperatures above 773 K, regardless of the changes of the other reaction conditions. The hydrogen yield increases with increasing temperature and H2O/C2H5OH molar ratios, with up to 75% being obtained at 873 K, liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) of 5.0 ml g(-1) h(-1) and H2O/C2H5OH molar ratio of 10. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.