The reaction of ethanol has been investigated on Ru/CeO2 in steady state conditions as well as with temperature programmed desorption (TPD). High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images indicated that the used catalyst contained Ru particles with a mean size of ca. 1.5 nm well dispersed on CeO2 (of about 12-15 nm in size). Surface uptake of ethanol was measured by changing exposure to ethanol followed by TPD. Saturation coverage is found to be between 0.25 and 0.33 of a monolayer for CeO2 that has been prior heated with 02 at 773 K. The main reactions of ethanol on CeO2 during TPD are: re combinative desorption of ethanol; dehydrogenation to acetaldehyde; and dehydration to ethylene. The dehydration to ethylene occurs mainly in a small temperature window at about 700 K and it is attributed to ethoxides adsorbed-on surface-oxygen defects. The presence of Ru considerably modified the reaction of ceria towards ethanol. It has switched the desorption products to CO, CO2, CH4 and H-2. These latter products are typical reforming products. Ethanol steam reforming (ESR) conducted on Ru/CeO2 indicated that optimal reaction activity is at about 673 K above which CO2 production declines (together with that of 1-12) due to reverse water gas shift. This trend was well captured during ethanol TPD where CO2 desorbed about 50 K below than CO on both oxidized and reduced Ru/CeO2 catalysts. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.