Bioethanol steam reforming is one of the most promising route to produce hydrogen from a renewable liquid biofuel. Activity of two Cu-Zn-Al based catalysts was investigated at low temperatures, ranging from 420 to 500 degrees C, in view of temperature limitations associated with solar energy supply by parabolic trough technology. At 450 degrees C the space velocity effect was also investigated, by varying the weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) from 1.67 to 3.32 h(-1). In each experimental conditions, together with the expected hydrogen and carbon dioxide, also methane, ethylene, acetaldehyde and diethylether were detect as products, so indicating the presence of several parallel reaction pathways. A good selectivity to ethanol reforming was obtained only at 500 degrees C (with values of the H(2)/CO(2) mol ratio of 3.4 and 4.5) with both catalysts, while at lower temperatures alcohol dehydration into acetaldehyde seemed to be the main reaction. (C) 2010 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.