NOVELTY - A fuel processing system comprises a first vaporization zone to receive hydrocarbon fuel and combine it with air or water, a reformer to reform the fuel to a reformate stream containing hydrogen-rich atmosphere, a second vaporization zone to receive reformate stream, a water inlet to introduce water to reformate stream, and a filter to trap soot. The system oxidizes any soot collected on the filter in the hydrogen atmosphere of reformate stream.    USE - The fuel processing system is used for reforming hydrocarbon fuel. It may be used in a vehicle as an energy source for vehicle propulsion.    ADVANTAGE - The inventive fuel processing system enables efficient removal of trapped soot by oxidizing soot trapped onto a filter during the reformation process.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A fuel processing system comprises a first vaporization zone for receiving a hydrocarbon fuel and combining it with air or water, a reformer connected with and downstream of the first vaporization zone for receiving the hydrocarbon fuel/air or water mixture to reform the fuel to a reformate stream containing a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, a second vaporization zone connected with the reformer for receiving the reformate stream from the reformer, a water inlet connected to the second vaporization zone for introducing water to the reformate stream, and a filter connected with and downstream of the second vaporization zone for preventing passage of a substantial portion of any soot contained in the reformate stream. The fuel processing system is designed to oxidize any soot collected on the filter in the hydrogen atmosphere of the reformate stream. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for removal of soot in a reformate stream that has been collected on a filter, by combining hydrocarbon fuel with air to form a hydrocarbon fuel-air mixture, reforming the mixture to a reformate stream containing hydrogen-rich atmosphere, passing the reformate stream through a filter to collect any soot in the reformate stream, and when a predetermined amount of soot has collected on the filter, introducing water to the reformate stream for a predetermined time during the reforming of hydrocarbon fuel to oxidize the soot collected on the filter.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a block diagram of the inventive fuel processing system.