Adsorption of CO and CO(2) in mixtures of H(2)/CO/CO(2) was achieved using compact pressure swing adsorption (CPSA) system to produce purified hydrogen for use in fuel cell. A CPSA system was designed by combining four adsorption beds that simultaneously operate at different processes in the pressure swing adsorption (wPSA) process cycle. The overall diameter of the cylindrical shell of the CPSA is 35 cm and its height is 40 cm. Several suitable adsorbent materials for CO and CO(2) adsorption in a hydrogen stream were identified and their adsorption properties were tested. Activated carbon from Sigma-Aldrich was the adsorbent chosen. it has a surface area of 695.07 m(2)/g. CO adsorption capacity (STP) of 0.55 mmol/g and CO(2) at 2.05 mmol/g were obtained. The CPSA system has a rapid process cycle that can supply hydrogen continuously without disruption by the regeneration process of the adsorbent. The process cycle in each column of the CPSA consists of pressurization, adsorption, blowdown and purging processes. CPSA is capable of reducing the CO concentration in a H(2)/CO/CO(2) mixture from 4000 ppm. to 1.4 ppm and the CO(2) concentration from 5% to 7.0 ppm CO(2) in 60 cycles and 3600 s. Based on the mixture used in the experimental work, the H(2) purity obtained was 99.999%, product throughput of 0.04 kg H(2)/kg adsorbent with purge/feed ratio was 0.001 and vent loss/feed ratio was 0.02. It is therefore concluded that the CPSA system met the required specifications of hydrogen purity for fuel cell applications. 2009 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.