Ceria-supported Pt, Ir and Co catalysts are prepared herein by the deposition-precipitation method and investigated for their suitability in the steam reforming of ethanol (SRE) at a temperature range of 250-500 degrees C. SRE is tested in a fixed-bed reactor under an H2O/EtOH molar ratio of 13 and 20,000 h(-1) GHSV. Possible pathways are proposed according to the assigned temperature window to understand the different catalysts attributed to specific reaction pathways. The Pt/CeO2 catalyst shows the best carbon-carbon bond-breaking ability and the lowest complete ethanol conversion temperature of 300 degrees C. Acetone steam reforming over the Ir/CeO2 catalyst at 400 degrees C promotes a hydrogen yield of up to 5.3. Lower reaction temperatures for the water gas shift and acetone steam reforming are in evidence for the Co/CeO2 catalyst, whereas the carbon deposition causes its deactivation at temperature over 500 degrees C. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.