This work studied the effect of the preparation of monolithic catalysts for partial oxidation of ethanol. Cordierite monoliths coated with 10Ni/CeSiOx catalyst were prepared by washcoating with two different binders (PVA and Ludox) and a direct sol-gel techniques. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses and adherence tests revealed that structured washcoated monoliths prepared by the slurry with Ludox and direct synthesis using citrate method exhibited excellent dispersion and adherence of catalyst coatings. For the washcoated monolith obtained by slurry with PVA, large agglomerates of catalyst over the wall were observed. The tests with the monolith without catalyst revealed that POX of ethanol only takes place in the presence of the Ni-based catalysts. The monolith catalysts synthesized by slurry with Ludox and direct synthesis using citrate method exhibited a high formation of syngas. However, the preparation method of the monolithic catalysts affects product distribution at low temperature. The addition of Pt to the NiCeSiOx monolith catalyst synthesized by citrate method significantly improved the partial oxidation of ethanol reaction. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.