The influence of various promoters and activation methods on the low-temperature methanol-steam reforming performance of promoted Cu-Al catalysts was studied at atmospheric pressure in a microreactor over a reaction temperature range of 170-250 degrees C at a methanol space velocity (WHSV) of 16.7 h(-1). Maximum methanol conversions of 93 and 99 mol% and H-2 selectivities of 99 and 93 mol% were obtained from the Mn-promoted and vaporized feed-activated catalyst at 200 and 250 degrees C, respectively. The overall results showed that favorable catalyst characteristics were such that the promoter and the activation process not only conditioned the catalyst to produce optimum amounts of active Cu-0, Cu2O, Cu-I, and Bronsted ZnO base sites but also ensured that these catalyst sites were maintained during the reaction.