Alcohols like ethanol and glycerol have been extensively investigated as potential feedstock for on-sitehydrogen production by steam reforming. The varied number of hydroxyl group in the alcohols inevitablyaffects the reaction intermediates generated and eventually properties of coke formed. In this study, fouralcohols (ethanol, ethylene glycol, 1-propanol and glycerol) with the single or multiple hydroxyl groupswere steam reformed, focusing on the influence of the hydroxyl group on the properties of the coke. Theresearch results showed that steam reforming of ethanol and glycerol produced more coke than that insteam reforming of 1-propanol or ethylene glycol, while the Ni/SBA-15 catalyst deactivated to a higherextent in steam reforming of ethylene glycol or glycerol with multiple hydroxyl group, due to the cokeof varied properties. The coke produced by steam reforming of ethanol and 1-propanol contained moredefective structures but more aromatic. However, the generated coke from the steam reforming of ethyleneglycol and glycerol had more aliphatic structures, especially in that from ethylene glycol. On theother hand, the carbon nanotubes formed by the steam reforming of ethanol or 1-propanol had thin wallthickness and smooth surface, while that in steam reforming of ethylene glycol and glycerol had thickwall and very rough surface, resulting from the distinct reaction intermediates formed.