Aluminum spinels, MAl2O4 with M2+ = Cu, Zn or Ni, were prepared by citrate method and its reactivity in the ethanol steam reforming reaction was studied at 500 degrees C. They were characterized by TG, BET surface area, XRD, FTIR and TPR techniques. The catalytic behavior depended strongly on the nature of divalent metal which determines the physico-chemical properties of samples. In all cases, very active catalysts with a complete ethanol conversion were reached. Hydrogen yield follows the order of ZnAl > NiAl > CuAl.