Methods and systems are provided for continually monitoring a functionality of an exhaust catalyst based on roll-down of a monotonically decreasing catalyst activity parameter representing catalyst storage capacity. Catalyst degradation may be indicated responsive to the estimate of catalyst storage capacity lowering below a threshold. Engine operating parameters may be adjusted based on a current level of catalyst storage capacity.

A system includes a controller configured to perform an enable operation responsive to receiving information indicative of an enable parameter, the enable operation includes: determining a predicted downstream NOx value of an exhaust gas stream exiting a NOx storage catalyst; determining a downstream NOx value of the exhaust gas stream exiting the NOx storage catalyst; determining an error between the predicted downstream NOx value and the determined downstream NOx value; comparing the error to an error threshold; and determining that the NOx storage catalyst is in good health responsive to determining that the error does not exceed the error threshold. The controller is further configured to perform a disable operation responsive to receiving information indicative of a disable parameter, the disable operation causing a deactivation of at least a portion of the controller.

The present subject matter relates to a method and a treatment system monitor for monitoring an engine exhaust after-treatment system containing more than one Lean NO.sub.x Traps (LNT). The method includes receiving an exhaust gas of a desired air-fuel ratio upstream of a respective LNT. The LNT is further regenerated using a richer than stoichiometric exhaust air-fuel ratio and subsequently an air-fuel ratio received downstream of the LNT is evaluated. Further, a working state of a respective LNT is determined based on the monitoring of the air-fuel ratio and oxygen level upstream and downstream of the LNT.

Disclosed are a hydrocarbon adsorption and desorption complex showing hydrocarbon adsorption and oxidation performance by controlling the cation ratio in zeolite, and a preparation method therefor. The hydrocarbon adsorption and desorption complex controls a cation ratio to exhibit the excellent hydrocarbon adsorption ability and oxidation performance even at a temperature lower than the catalyst activation temperature, and increases hydrothermal stability of the hydrocarbon adsorption and desorption complex through hydrothermal treatment to exhibit the excellent hydrocarbon adsorption and desorption performance even in a situation where water is present at a high temperature.

Provided is a method for accurately diagnosing a degree of degradation of an oxidation catalyst. A target gas detecting element configured to output an electromotive force corresponding to a concentration of a target gas is provided downstream of a catalyst in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine. A sum of change amounts of an electromotive force in a time-variable profile thereof after the introduction of a gas atmosphere for diagnosis into the catalyst is set as a diagnosis index value. The gas atmosphere has been intentionally created in the engine and includes a target gas having a concentration higher than the concentration of a target gas during a steady operation state of the engine. The index value is then compared with a threshold corresponding to the temperature of the catalyst to diagnosis whether degradation exceeding an acceptable degree has occurred in the catalyst.

Provided is a method for accurately diagnosing a degree of degradation of an oxidation catalyst. A target gas detecting element configured to output an electromotive force corresponding to a concentration of a target gas is provided downstream of a catalyst in an exhaust path of an internal combustion engine. A maximum change amount of an electromotive force after the introduction of a gas atmosphere for diagnosis into the catalyst is set as a diagnosis index value. The gas atmosphere has been intentionally created in the engine and includes a target gas having a concentration higher than the concentration of a target gas in a steady operation state of the engine. The index value is then compared with a threshold corresponding to the temperature of the catalyst to diagnosis whether degradation exceeding an acceptable degree has occurred in the catalyst.

In the case of a method for operating an exhaust gas aftertreatment system of a motor vehicle, the exhaust gas aftertreatment system comprises at least one NOx storage catalyst (10) and at least one SCR catalyst (30). According to the invention, when an inadequate function of the NOx storage catalyst (10) or of the SCR catalyst (30) is identified, at least one auxiliary measure is initiated which leads to a reduction of the NOx emissions of the motor vehicle.

An additive amount of a reducing agent to a selective reduction-type NOx catalyst is optimized. An ammonia adsorption amount of the selective reduction-type NOx catalyst is estimated based on one or a plurality of prescribed parameters related to the ammonia adsorption amount and a specific ammonia adsorption amount that is an estimated value of the ammonia adsorption amount specified by at least one of a maximum value and a minimum value of an estimated value of the ammonia adsorption amount is estimated based on an error in the prescribed parameter, and when the specific ammonia adsorption amount is outside a target range of the ammonia adsorption amount, addition of an ammonia precursor or ammonia using an adding valve is controlled such that the specific ammonia adsorption amount returns to the target range.

In a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which processing of regenerating the NOx storage capacity of an NSR catalyst is carried out in accompany with processing of diagnosing an abnormality in an exhaust gas purification device including the NSR catalyst, the present invention is intended to suppress the fluctuation of torque at the time of regenerating the NOx storage capacity of the NSR catalyst, and to terminate abnormality diagnostic processing quickly. According to the invention, by setting an engine air fuel ratio, which has been set to a lean air fuel ratio before the processing of regenerating the NOx storage capacity of the NSR catalyst is started, to a weak lean air fuel ratio which is lower than a basic lean air fuel ratio and higher than a stoichiometric air fuel ratio, it becomes possible to suppress the fluctuation of torque at the time of regeneration processing being started, and to terminate abnormality diagnostic processing at an early period of time.

A method for operating an exhaust gas purification system of an internal combustion engine, which can be operated in a lean operating mode and in a rich operating mode, is disclosed. The exhaust gas purification system has, arranged one after the other in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas, an ammonia-forming catalyst, a first exhaust gas sensor, an ammonia-SCR catalyst, a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst and a second exhaust gas sensor. Exhaust gas sensors emit a first signal correlating with the nitrogen oxide content of the exhaust gas and a second signal correlating with the lambda value of the exhaust gas. In diagnostic operation, the ammonia storage capacity of the ammonia-SCR catalyst and the oxygen and optionally the nitrogen oxide storage capacity of the nitrogen oxide storage catalyst can be determined by analyzing the signals of the first and second exhaust gas sensors.