Ru/MgO-CeO2　catalysts　were　prepared　by　using　co-precipitation　(CP),　deposition　precipitation　(DP)　and　modified　deposition　precipitation　(MDP)　methods.　These　samples　were　characterized　by　XRD,　N2　physisorption,　H2-TPD,　N2-TPD,　H2-TPR　and　CO　chemisorption.　It　is　found　that　the　catalytic　activity　of　Ru/MgO-CeO2　prepared　by　MDP　method　was　2.5　times　higher　than　that　of　the　catalyst　prepared　with　the　DP　route　under　the　same　reaction　conditions.　The　activity　of　the　catalyst　with　MDP　method　was　also　higher　than　that　of　Ru/MgO-CeO2　synthesized　by　CP　method.　The　possible　influence　factors　of　preparation　methods　on　the　catalytic　performance　were　proposed　based　on　the　experimental　results.　©　2010　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.