A series of Ni-based catalysts supported on different MgO supports were investigated for hydrogen production via steam reforming (SR) of acetic acid (HAc). Three types of NiO and MgO solid solutions were prepared by co-precipitation of Ni(NO3)(2) and Mg(NO3)(2), impregnation of Ni(NO3)(2) on MgO, and impregnation of Ni(NO3)(2) on mesoporous MgO (denoted as MgO-m), respectively. The Ni-based catalysts were prepared by reducing these solid solutions at 650 degrees C in 10% H-2/Ar. N-2 adsorption results showed that the Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) surface area of NiO/MgO-m solid solution was 3.0 and 2.3 times that of NiO-MgO and NiO/MgO solid solutions, respectively. The Ni/MgO-m catalyst showed the best catalytic performance, and the H-2 yield can be enhanced by 460% by using the Ni/MgO-m catalyst. Ni/MgO-m kept its high activity up to 20 h of reaction. Thermogravimetry (TG) results indicated that no significant change was observed for the amount of carbon deposits on used Ni/MgO-m after 3 h on stream. Two kind of carbon species were observed on used Ni/MgO-m in the temperature -programmed oxidation (TPO) test.