The electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol was investigated in a Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis Cell (PEMEC) working at low temperature (20 degrees C) on several Pt-based catalysts (Pt/C, PtSn/C, PtSnRu/C) in order to produce very clean hydrogen by the electrochemical decomposition of a biomass compound. The electrocatalysts used were characterized by several physicochemical methods: TDA-TGA, XRD, TEM, EDX, etc. The electrocatalytic activity was determined by cyclic voltammetry and the rate of hydrogen evolution was measured for each catalyst at of ethanol chosen as a model compound from biomass feedstock. different current densities (j = 2 to 150 mA cm(-2)). The discussion will be focussed on the primary importance of the catalytic properties of the anode material and aims to show the feasibility of producing clean hydrogen from the electrochemical decomposition of ethanol chosen as a model compound from biomass feedstock.