Dimethyl ether (DME) and water-ethanol mixtures are promising and attractive sources of hydrogen for fuel cell applications. Copper-cerium oxide systems have been studied as the catalysts for DME steam reforming (SR) to hydrogen-rich gas mixtures. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide were the main reaction products; CO content was insignificant. For CO removal to 10ppm, the level tolerated by low-temperature fuel cells in the hydrogen-rich feed gas-the reaction of preferential CO methanation in the presence of CO2 has been used. Nickel-cerium oxide system was used as the catalyst. SR of water-ethanol mixtures was performed using supported Rh catalyst. Reaction products of ethanol SR at 400 degrees C contained H-2, CH4 and CO2. As the temperature increased to 600-700 degrees C, the CH4 concentration decreased considerably. The obtained hydrogen-rich gas mixture can be used as a feed for high-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells. (c) 2008 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.