Methods and apparatus are provided for a fuel cell including a fuel desulfurization system. The fuel cell system includes a source of fuel and a fuel desulfurization system fluidly coupled to the source of fuel to receive the fuel in a liquid phase. The fuel desulfurization system includes a vacuum system that depressurizes the fuel to convert at least a portion of the fuel from the liquid phase to a gaseous phase. The fuel cell system also includes a fuel cell stack fluidly coupled to the fuel desulfurization system to receive fuel from the fuel desulfurization system in the gaseous phase.