This article discusses the performance of ZrO2-supported size-selected Pt nanoparticles for the decomposition of methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, and 2-butanol. The potential of each alcohol for the production of H-2 and other relevant products in the presence of a catalyst is studied in a packed-bed mass flow reactor operating at atmospheric pressure. All the alcohols studied show some decomposition activity below 200 degrees C which increased with increasing temperature. In all cases, high selectivity towards H-2 formation is observed. With the exception of methanol, all alcohol conversion reactions lead to catalyst deactivation at high temperatures (T > 250 degrees C for 2-propanol and 2-butanol, T > 325 degrees C for ethanol) due to carbon poisoning. However, long-term catalyst deactivation can be avoided by optimizing reaction conditions such as operating temperature. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.