Low temperature water gas-shift catalysts containing 1.0% by weight of alkali elements (Li, K, Rb and Cs) were prepared by impregnation of a ternary Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 (CZA) base catalyst. The calcined precursors were characterized by different physical and chemical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, N2O chemisorption, N-2 adsorption at low temperature and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Then these precursors were activated and tested in the low temperature water gas-shift reaction (LT-WGS). It was shown that the K-containing CZA catalyst exhibited the highest CO conversion level at reaction temperature within the range 450-530 K. In addition, the alkali promoters were found to prevent methanol production at temperatures higher than 480 K. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.