The steam reforming of 1:2 phenol-ethanol mixture (ca. 80 g(ph +) (eth)/N m(3) in He) as a model of biomass gasification tar, has been investigated over Ni/Al2O3, Ni/MgO-Al2O3 and Ni/ZnO-Al2O3 catalysts. In this paper interest is focused over a 5% Ni-Al2O3 catalyst, that has been characterized in the unreduced and reduced states by IR of CO adsorbed at low temperature. The steam reforming reaction of ethanol and phenol has also been studied, separately, by IR spectroscopy. In spite of its low Ni content and the absence of alkali and alkali earth ions, this catalyst is actually active in the steam reforming of both ethanol and phenol. The reaction is, however, shifted to higher temperature than with catalysts containing higher Ni-loadings and also Mg and/or Zn ions. Ethanol steam reforming occurs at lower temperature than phenol steam reforming and does not seem to be much hindered by the presence of phenol. Phenol steam reforming in the presence of ethanol starts after, but is highly selective to COx and H-2. At low temperature, however, alkylation of phenol mainly occurs over the 5% Ni-Al2O3 catalyst to give mostly o-ethylphenol. Active ethoxide, acetate and phenate species are observed on the surface. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.