A series of SiO2-supported, Mn- and Zr-modified Co catalysts were synthesized using different preparation methods and varying Mn and Zr loadings. The effects of these variations on the applicability of the resulting catalysts to the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction were subsequently investigated. The coimpregnation of the SiO2 support with Co, Mn and Zr produced the most attractive catalytic properties among the three synthetic methods of coimpregnation, sequential impregnation and reverse sequential impregnation. The addition of moderate amount of Mn and Zr affected both the Co reducibility and dispersion. Based on the results of various characterizations, we conclude that the enhanced Fischer-Tropsch synthesis activity of the coimpregnation Mn + Zr + Co/SiO2 catalyst can be attributed to the formation of highly dispersed Co metal particles which have interacted with Mn species. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.