Cu-ZnO-Al2O3 catalysts for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction were prepared using methods of direct and reverse coprecipitation. The catalysts obtained were characterized by DRX, TPR, XPS, N2O chemisorption, Hg-Porosimetry and BET surface area. It was observed that the precipitation sequence of the precursors led to significant differences in values of copper dispersion and consequently in the activity of the catalyst for the water-gas shift reaction.This work was supported by the Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología, Spain, under grant MAT95-0894 and Fabrica de Fertilizantes do Nordeste - FAFEN (Bahia -Brazil). R. Tavares Figueiredo acknowledges the assistance received in the form of a grant from CNPq, Brazil.Peer reviewed