Abstract: The inventive catalyst composition is a sponge metal catalyst comprising at least one skeletal porous sponge metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, iron and copper, together with a first promoter metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium and iridium and a second promoter metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, cobalt, zinc, vanadium, cerium, copper, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, niobium, manganese, silver, cadmium, praseodymium and neodymium. Processes for the manufacture of the catalyst include impregnation or precipitation of the promoter metals onto the sponge metal catalyst.