The use of cyclohexane dehydrogenation and methylcyclopentane reforming as test reactions for the characterisation of industrial Pt-Sn/Al2O3 catalysts for naphtha reforming has been investigated, as an alternative to usual catalyst characterisation techniques-which present problems in these systems-and to industrial pilot plant techniques-which are time-consuming and expensive. Prepared and industrial (fresh and used) catalysts were studied. The results showed that the use of both reactions gives a quick, easy and cheap way to characterise these catalysts. Cyclohexane dehydrogenation can be used to estimate platinum dispersion in the catalysts, whereas the distribution of products in methylcyclopentane reforming gives indications on the degree of deactivation of a catalyst and how it will perform in the industrial process. Ageing seems to be related to the segregation of tin to the surface of platinum particles, which are thus covered by tin or tin-rich platinum-tin alloys. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.