NiZnAl catalysts with different Ni loading (1-25 wt.%) and a Zn:Al atomic ratio nearly constant (Zn:Al congruent to 0.6) were prepared by the citrate sol gel method and characterized by different techniques such as TG, BET, TPR, XRD and Fr-IR. They were active in the ethanol steam reforming at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range 500-600 degrees C. However, there were significant differences in their performance. On catalysts with high Ni loading (18-25 wt.%) high hydrogen selectivities around 85% were obtained. CO, CO2 and small amount of CH4 were the only by-products at 600 degrees C. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.