Steam reforming of crude glycerol, a side product of biodiesel industry, could be used to obtain H-2 and H-2/CO mixtures using Ni based catalysts. In this work, carbon supported nickel catalysts prepared by a simple impregnation technique were studied in the crude glycerol steam reforming at 650 degrees C to yield H-2 and CO2 as the main products. Promotion with different metal oxides (MgO, La2O3, Y2O3) is effective to increase H-2 yield which attain more than 80% of the maximum theoretical amount with MgO. Rh promotion is also detected at the initial stages of the process although it is counteracted by the deleterious effect of carbon deposits on the active metal. Carbon deposits and sintering of the active metal are the main sources of deactivation. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.