The hydrothermal stability of catalysts prepared from HZSM-5 zeolites doped with Ni (by impregnation) has been studied in the transformation of bioethanol into hydrocarbons, in order to remove the main barrier for the use of HZSM-5 zeolite catalysts in this process, which is the irreversible deactivation by dealumination of the zeolite above 400 degrees C with water in the reaction medium. The main effect of doping is the attenuation of the zeolite acid strength from 135 to 125 kJ (mol of NH3) (-1) for a Ni content of 1 wt.%. The catalysts maintain a high level of activity and a high selectivity of propene and butenes, and Ni doping significantly attenuates irreversible deactivation of the catalyst by dealumination of the zeolite. The zeolite catalyst doped with 1 wt.% of Ni maintains its kinetic behaviour in reaction-regeneration cycles when the reaction step is carried out at 500 degrees C and with 5 wt.% of water in the feed. This catalyst allows operating at 400 degrees C without irreversible deactivation with bioethanol containing 75 wt.% of water. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.