TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Preferred Method: The fuel processing method further comprises reducing the propylene in the fuel feedstock using the propane processor unit, and removing sulfur-containing compounds from the fuel feedstock in the pre-reforming unit. The step of reducing the oxygen in the deoxidizing bed produces hydrogen. The lower hydrocarbon content is converted to produce hydrogen in the pre-reforming bed.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Component: The pre-processing assembly further comprises a propane processor unit for reducing propane and propylene in the fuel feedstock. The propane processor unit comprises a nickel-based carbon resistant catalyst, and a propane processor bed. It is also disposed within the common vessel. The deoxidizing unit comprises a deoxidizing bed. The pre-reforming unit comprises a pre-reforming bed following the deoxidizing bed along a flow path (201) of the fuel feedstock. The deoxidizing bed comprises a deoxidizing catalyst. The pre-reforming bed comprises a pre-reforming catalyst. The deoxidizing bed in reducing the oxygen produces hydrogen. The pre-reforming bed converts the lower hydrocarbon content to hydrogen to maintain a reducing environment in the pre-reforming bed. The space velocity of the fuel feedstock in the pre-reforming bed is such that hydrogen back diffusion is developed and maintained in the pre-reforming bed. The deoxidizer bed operates at 300-600degreesC. The pre-reforming bed operates at 320-540 or 300-540degreesC. The propane processor bed is adapted to operate at 300-540degreesC. The pre-reforming unit is further adapted to remove sulfur-containing compounds from the fuel feedstock. The deoxidizing bed, the propane processor bed and the pre-reforming bed are disposed within the common vessel such that the fuel feedstock passes through the deoxidizing bed first, then through one of the propane processor bed and the pre-reforming bed, and then through the other of the propane processor bed and the pre-reforming bed; or disposed within the common vessel such that the fuel feedstock passes through the deoxidizing bed first, then through the propane processor bed, and then through the pre-reforming bed. The fuel cell system further comprises a preheater for preheating the fuel feedstock before the fuel feedstock is processed by the pre-processing assembly; a desulfurizer for reducing the sulfur content in the fuel feedstock before the fuel feedstock is processed by the pre-processing assembly. The desulfurizer precedes the preheater. The preheater heats the fuel feedstock to approximately 375degreesC. The fuel cell is one of a molten carbonate fuel cell and a solid oxide fuel cell. Preferred Properties: The deoxidizer bed has a volume of 0.7 ft3. The pre-reforming bed has a volume of 2.5 or 1.7 ft3. The propane processor bed has a volume of 0.75 ft3. The fuel inlet temperature is 300-450degreesC.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The deoxidizing catalyst is one of platinum (Pt)-palladium (Pd) on alumina catalyst, Pt-rhodium (Rh)-based catalyst and Rh-Pd based alumina catalyst. It is preferably G-74D (sic). The pre-reforming catalyst is a nickel-based catalyst. It is preferably one of C11-PR, CRG-F, CRG-LH and G-180 (all sic). The deoxidizing catalyst and the pre-reforming catalyst are pellet-shaped catalysts. Each of the deoxidizing catalyst and the pre-reforming catalyst comprises a catalyst-coated ceramic monolith. The carbon resistant catalyst is FCR-HC59 (sic). The nickel-based carbon resistant catalyst is doped with promoters comprising one of cerium oxide, lanthanum oxide, palladium or platinum.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The fuel feedstock is a multi fuel, e.g. natural gas, peak shaving gas, coal bed methane, digester gas, propane, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and HD-5 (sic). Preferred Properties: The space velocity of the fuel feedstock in the pre-reforming bed is preferably 2000-5000/hour. The space velocity of the fuel feedstock in the deoxidizing bed is 5000-12000 or 5000-10000/hour. The space velocity of the fuel feedstock in the propane processor bed is 1900-10000/hour. The temperature of the fuel feedstock upon entry into the assembly is approximately 375degreesC. The steam to carbon ratio of the fuel feedstock is 2.9-3.4. The superficial velocity of the fuel feedstock in the pre-reforming bed is 1.3 ft/second at standard temperature and pressure (STP) conditions.