Hydrogen production via catalytic steam reforming of maize stalk fast pyrolysis bio-oil over the nickel/alumina supported catalysts promoted with cerium was studied using a laboratory scale fixed bed coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy/thermal conductivity detection analysis (FTIR/TCD). The effects of nickel loading, reaction temperature, water to carbon molar ratio (WCMR) and bio-oil weight hourly space velocity (WbHSV) on hydrogen production were investigated. The highest hydrogen yield of 71.4% was obtained over the 14.9%Ni-2.0%Ce/Al2O3 catalyst under the reforming conditions of temperature = 900 degrees C, WCMR = 6 and WbHSV = 12 h(-1). Increasing reaction temperature from 600 to 900 degrees C resulted in the significant increase of hydrogen yield. The hydrogen yield was significantly enhanced by increasing the WCMR from 1 to 3, whereas it increased slightly by further increasing WCMR. The hydrogen yield decreased with the increase of WbHSV. Meanwhile, the coke deposition percentage changed little with increasing WbHSV up to 12 h(-1) and then it increased by 4.5% with the further increase of WbHSV from 12 to 24 h(-1) Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.