An investigation on the chemical looping reforming of ethanol process using Gibbs free energy minimization method was performed. It is found that the temperature, oxygen/ethanol molar ratio (OER), and pressure have pronounced influences on the product yields in chemical looping reforming of ethanol process. The ethanol conversion and H-2 yield are 100% and 2.25 mol mol(-1) ethanol, respectively, at 700 degrees C, OER of 1 and 1 atm. The higher temperatures promote H-2 and CO production, but the higher pressures and OERs have negative effect on the H-2 and CO generation. Favorable operation conditions are 1 atm, 700 degrees C, and OER=1. The experimental tests were carried out in a fixed bed using a Cu-based oxygen carrier prepared by impregnation method. Working at 1 atm, the H-2 concentration increased with an increase in temperature; however, it remained approximately with an increase in gas hourly space velocity. The H-2/CO molar ratio was between 3 and 5 in the period of 0-30 min at 1 atm and 700 degrees C. Copyright (C) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.