LaMnO3, LaFeO3. LaCoO3 and LaNiO3 perovskite oxides were prepared using combustion method for autothermal reforming of ethanol (ATRE). Fresh, reduced and used catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, ethanol-TPD, and H-2-TPR. The perovskite-type oxides exhibit moderate activities in the ATRE reaction. Well dispersed Ni particles on lanthanum oxide species were obtained by reducing the LaNiO3 sample. It favors the dehydrogenation, decomposition of ethanol/acetaldehyde, methane reforming and water gas shift reactions, thus leads to good activity and H-2 selectivity in ATRE reaction. Typically, 3.2 H-2 molecules per ethanol molecule were produced at EtOH:H2O:O-2 = 1:2:0.98 and GHSV = 4 x 10(5) h(-1). A comparison between LaNiO3 derived and impregnated Ni/La2O3 shows that the LaNiO3 derived sample favored the dispersion of Ni, which increased the activity and the resistance to coke deposition. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.