In this work the reaction of steam reforming of ethanol to produce hydrogen using a NiAl2O4 spinel catalyst has been studied, focusing in particular on how temperature, steam to ethanol ratio and space time influence the reaction. The first part of the thesis focuses on the literature related to the reaction, using different types of catalyst, while the second refers to the experimental study using a NiAl2O4 spinel derived catalyst. This study is inserted in a bigger field, that of sustainability and searching for new energy sources that do not derive from fossil fuels. Finding alternative and renewable energy sources is an issue that is becoming more and more important nowadays, both for environmental issues linked to the global warming, but also to replace fossil fuels that are no renewable sources and their quantity is rapidly decreasing.