Abstract: Promoted skeletal iron catalysts are provided which contain 70-90 wt % iron together with promoters 0-5.0 wt. % copper, 0.1-10.0 wt. % manganese, and 0.1-3.0 wt. % potassium, with the balance being aluminum. The catalysts are prepared by mixing the metal chips or powders uniformly together, then melting and rapidly quenching the molten metals to form a solid metal alloy precursor including the promotor metals except potassium, removing most of the aluminum by caustic extraction/leaching to provide a base skeletal iron form, then loading the potassium promoter from a suitable potassium alcohol solution promoter. After evaporation of the solvent, the promoted skeletal iron catalyst is activated by contact with hydrogen. The promoted skeletal iron catalysts are utilized for F-T synthesis processes at 10-30 wt % catalyst concentration, 200-350° C. temperature, 1.0-3.0 Mpa pressure and gas hourly space velocity of 0.5-5.0 L/gcat-h to produce desired hydrocarbon liquid products.