Fischer-Tropsch elements (Fe, Co and Ni) modified K/beta-Mo2C catalysts were prepared and investigated for their performance in CO hydrogenation. The results revealed that Ni or Co modified K/beta-Mo2C catalysts were shown to be highly active and selective towards the synthesis of mixed alcohols, especially for the C2+OH production, but Fe caused a negative effect. Ni or Co led to a decrease in apparent activation energies for C-1-C-4 alcohols, whereas Fe caused a slight increase for methanol and the decrease for C-2-C-4 alcohols. As a result, the promotion effects of Fischer-Tropsch elements were different and followed the sequence: Ni >> Co > Fe for the activity and Ni >> Co > Fe for the C2+OH alcohol selectivity. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.