The steam reforming of biomass-derived ethanol is a promising method for hydrogen production. It needs the development of efficient catalysts, especially when the reaction is carried out at temperature lower than 600 degrees C. The performances of a bimetallic sample, based on Pt (3 wt.%) and Ni (10 wt.%) and supported on CeO2 were investigated, in terms of activity, selectivity and stability. Very interesting results were obtained in the range 250-600 degrees C, even with a stoichiometric water/ethanol molar ratio: the ethanol was completely converted at T >= 300 degrees C, with a products distribution extremely close to the equilibrium calculations. Moreover, the selectivity towards the desired compounds was very high, and as a consequence, the sample showed a very low coke selectivity (<1%) and a high stability, that was further improved with higher amount of water in the feed stream. The analysis of the products distribution as a function of contact time (3-600 ms) and temperature (340-480 degrees C) and the temperature programmed desorption (TPD) experiments, were used to hypothesize the possible reactions involved, in order to develop a mathematical model, able to simulate the kinetic behaviour of the low temperature-ethanol steam reforming over Pt/Ni/CeO2. Finally, a possible Pt/Ni/CeO2 catalyzed reaction pathway at 370 degrees C, was formulated, that includes the following steps: ethanol adsorption followed by dehydrogenation to acetaldehyde; intermediate decomposition and reforming to CH4, CO, H-2 and CO2; CO-WGS and CO2 methanation reaction. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.