Cobalt catalysts supported on gamma Al2O3, CeO2 and CeO2-gamma Al2O3 were prepared by the impregnation method and applied to steam and oxidative reforming of ethanol. The catalysts were characterized by temperature-programmed reduction with H-2 (TPR-H-2), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2-physisorption and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in the ultra-violet visible range (DRS-UV-Vis). Steam reforming of ethanol was carried out at 400 degrees C, 500 degrees C and 600 degrees C with an ethanol/water feed in a molar ratio of 1:3. The oxidative reforming of ethanol was carried out at 500 degrees C with an ethanol/H2O/O-2 feed in molar proportion 1:3:0.20. Analysis of the gaseous products showed that the Co/gamma Al2O3 and Co/CeO2-gamma Al2O3 catalysts were highly selective for H-2 and CO2, and this was attributed to the high specific surface area of these catalysts. The addition of O-2 to the feed improved the hydrogen selectivity and reduced the carbon formation on Co/gamma Al2O3, which suffered fast deactivation in the SRE reaction at low temperature. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.