Fe-containing carbon obtained from ferrocene: Influence of the preparation procedure on the catalytic performance in FTS reaction

•Fe-containing carbon catalysts for FTS prepared by distinct routes.•Effects of the FTS reaction temperature and pressure were examined.•Using ferrocene by sol-gel method, syngas is converted to C10+ hydrocarbons.•Chemical modification of ferrocene enables Fe nanoparticles on carbon actives in WGS.•Synergy of magnetite, Fe-doped nitrogen and the iron carbides determine performance.