The steam rreforming and oxidative steam reforming of ethanol were studied over 2KCo/ZrO2 catalyst which was prepared by support impregnation with cobalt nitrate-citric acid solution. The catalyst was characterized by N-2 adsorption, H-2 chemisorption, X-ray fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction, temperature-programmed oxidation. The results indicate that the optimum EtOH/O-2 molar ratio of 1/0.9 corresponds to the oxygen amount which prevents coke formation on the catalyst, when a constant molar ratio of H2O/EtOH = 9/1. However, the presence of oxygen causes oxidation of metallic particles which leads to oxidized cobalt active phases that behave poorly in the reformation reactions. Thus, compared to the SRE, both activity and selectivity to desired products over the 2KCo/ZrO2 catalyst in the OSRE process is definitely lower and the higher temperature for complete conversion of ethanol is required. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.