Sulfur and sulfur compounds are removed from a gas stream, such as a hydrocarbon fuel gas stream so as to render the gas stream suitable for use in a fuel cell power plant. Natural gas and recycled hydrogen enters the hydrodesulfurizer assembly at a temperature of about 120 DEG F. The gas stream is heated to a temperature of about 625 DEG F whereupon it enters a desulfurizing bed (44) formed from a mixture of platinum catalyst deposited on alumina pellets (46) and a pelletized zinc oxide hydrogen sulfide absorbent (48). The gas is cooled to an exit temperature of about 525 DEG F as it passes through the desulfurizer bed. The desulfurizer bed is combined with a shift converter (6) which reduces carbon monoxide in the desulfurized gas stream after the latter has passed through a steam reformer bed.
