the present invention is a method for production of a hydrogen - rich fuel gas compatible for a fuel cell , comprising ; reforming a hydrocarbon - containing fuel to a co - containing , hydrogen - rich reformate , converting co in the reformate to co 2 and hydrogen by a catalyzed water - shift reaction , removing residual co in the reformate by adsorption on a copper halide adsorbent , and passing the essentially co - free reformate as a hydrogen - rich fuel gas to a fuel cell .