Effect of EDTA in preparation of Ni catalysts toward a carbon-resistant ethanol reforming

•Ni/MgAl2O4-CeO2 catalysts were prepared by an EDTA complexing method.•All the catalysts prepared with EDTA presented a decrease in the Ni particle size.•The EDTA/Ni = 1 sample showed the best performance in the ethanol steam reforming reaction at 650 °C.•The dNi does not seem to be the only factor which determines the carbon tolerance of the catalyst.•The Ce/Ni0 surface ratio appears to have prime importance for increasing the catalyst stability.