AbstractThe conversion of ethanol over H‐ZSM‐5 was studied as a function of ethanol partial pressure, reaction temperature, weight hourly space velocity and Si/Al ratio. The results obtained were in qualitative agreement with most of those in the literature. Combination with all published results to give a significant regression model was not possible due to the large scatter of the data from various scientific groups. In mechanistic investigations, temperature programmed reaction measurements of ethanol, diethyl ether and ethene were performed. The formation of ethene from ethanol via direct elimination or from diethyl ether as intermediate could be confirmed. In the conversion of ethanol/water mixtures, the product distribution did not change significantly up to a water content of 60 wt%. Then, a pronounced increase of ethene formation and a considerable decrease of the yields of aromatics was observed. When several reaction mixtures from syngas conversion to ethanol were converted over H‐ZSM‐5, the coking rate depended on the product distribution in the feed. Product mixtures from processes with higher amounts of compounds having an unfavourable C/H ratio led to rapid deactivation of the zeolite.