An apparatus for purifying an exhaust gas passing through an exhaust pipe includes a catalytic converter disposed on the exhaust pipe. The catalytic converter is provided with a lean NOx trap (LNT) device, the LNT device having an LNT catalyst coated therein, and a catalyzed particulate filter (CPF), the CPF having a catalyst coated therein, and the LNT device and the CPF are sequentially disposed in the catalytic converter. The CPF includes at least one inlet channel extending in a longitudinal direction, the at least one inlet channel having a first end into which fluid flows and a second end which is blocked, at least one outlet channel extending in the longitudinal direction, the at least one outlet channel having a first end which is blocked and a second end through which the fluid flows out, at least one porous wall that defines a boundary between neighboring inlet and outlet channels and that extends in the longitudinal direction, and a support with the catalyst coating thereon, and the support is located within at least one among the at least one inlet channel and the at least one outlet channel.

A gas adsorbing material particle includes an additive material particle having a moisture adsorption property; and a layer of a gas adsorbing metal disposed on a surface of the additive material particle, wherein the gas adsorbing metal is inactivated by moisture and adsorbs a target gas, wherein an average thickness of the layer of the metal is less than or equal to about 37 micrometers.

An exhaust system for treating an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system comprises a modified lean NO.sub.x trap (LNT), a urea injection system, and an ammonia-selective catalytic reduction catalyst. The modified LNT comprises a first layer and a second layer. The first layer comprises a NO.sub.x adsorbent component and one or more platinum group metals. The second layer comprises a diesel oxidation catalyst zone and an NO oxidation zone. The diesel oxidation catalyst zone comprises a platinum group metal, a zeolite, and optionally an alkaline earth metal. The NO oxidation zone comprises a platinum group metal and a carrier. The modified LNT stores NO.sub.x at temperatures below about 200° C. and releases at temperatures above about 200° C. The modified LNT and a method of using the modified LNT are also disclosed.

Synergized platinum group metals (SPGM) with ultra-low PGM loadings employed as close-coupled (CC) three-way catalysts (TWC) systems with varied material compositions and configurations are disclosed. SPGM CC catalysts in which ZPGM compositions of binary or ternary spinel structures supported onto support oxides are coupled with commercialized PGM UF catalysts and tested under Federal Test Procedure FTP-75 within TGDI and PI engines. The performance of the TWC systems including SPGM CC (with ultra-low PGM loadings) catalyst and commercialized PGM UF catalyst is compared to the performance of commercialized PGM CC and PGM UF catalysts. The disclosed TWC systems indicate that SPGM CC TWC catalytic performance is comparable or even exceeds high PGM-based conventional TWC catalysts, with reduced tailpipe emissions.

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, the exhaust system comprising, a lean NO.sub.x trap (LNT), a wall flow monolithic substrate having a NO.sub.x storage and reduction zone thereon, the wall flow monolithic substrate having a pre-coated porosity of 40% or greater, the NO.sub.x storage and reduction zone comprising a platinum group metal loaded on a first support, the first support comprising one or more alkaline earth metal compounds, a mixed magnesium/aluminium oxide, cerium oxide, and at least one base metal oxide selected the group consisting of copper oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide and zinc oxide.

The presently claimed invention provides a layered three-way catalyst composition for purification of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines; said catalyst comprises a first layer comprising i) palladium supported on at least one alumina component and at least one oxygen storage component; and ii) barium oxide; wherein said first layer is essentially free of strontium, and a second layer comprising: i) rhodium supported on at least one zirconia component and/or alumina component; ii) strontium oxide and/or barium oxide; and iii) optionally, palladium supported on at least one alumina component. The presently claimed invention also provides a process for preparing the layered three-way catalyst composition which involves a technique such as incipient wetness impregnation technique(A); co-precipitation technique (B); or co-impregnation technique(C). The process includes preparing a first layer; preparing a second layer; and depositing the second layer on the first layer followed by calcination. The presently claimed invention further provides a a layered three-way catalytic article in which the three-way catalyst composition is deposited on a substrate in a layered fashion and its preparation.

Methods and systems are provided for reducing soot sensor electrode degradation in harsh chemical environment introduced as a result of desulfation of a lean NOx trap positioned upstream of the soot sensor. In one example, a method may include in response to the SOx load being higher than the threshold, prior to initiating desulfation of LNT, operating the soot sensor in a pre-desulfation mode where the negative electrode is connected to the positive electrode for a brief duration, while the positive electrode is disconnected from the positive electrode. However during desulfation, when H.sub.2S is released as a by-product, both the electrodes may be open, i.e. not connected to the positive electrode or ground, thereby reducing the possibility of sensor degradation.

The present invention relates to a zeolite-based adsorbent comprising at least one zeolite of FAU structure of LSX type and comprising barium and/or potassium, in which the outer surface area of said zeolite-based adsorbent, measured by nitrogen adsorption, is between 20 m.sup.2.Math.g.sup.−1 and 100 m.sup.2.Math.g.sup.−1, limits inclusive. The present invention also relates to the use of such a zeolite-based adsorbent as an adsorption agent, and also to the process for separating para-xylene from aromatic isomer fractions containing 8 carbon atoms.

An object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust gas purification catalyst for purifying exhaust gas, in particular, fine composite-metal particles contained therein, and a method for producing the same; the exhaust gas purification catalyst according to the present invention includes fine composite-metal particles containing Rh and Pd, wherein, when the fine composite-metal particles in the exhaust gas purification catalyst are analyzed by STEM-EDX, the average ratio of the amount of Pd with respect to the total amount of Rh and Pd in the fine composite-metal particles is 1.7 atomic % or more and 24.8 atomic % or less.

A catalytic converter with excellent OSC performance and No.sub.x purification performance. The catalytic converter includes a substrate with a cell structure and a catalyst layer formed on a cell wall surface of the substrate. The catalyst layer has a catalyst layer arranged on the upstream side and a catalyst layer arranged on the downstream side in an exhaust gas flow direction on the substrate. The catalyst layer on the upstream side includes a support containing an Al.sub.2O.sub.3—CeO.sub.2—ZrO.sub.2 ternary composite oxide (ACZ material) and an Al.sub.2O.sub.3—ZrO.sub.2 binary composite oxide (AZ material), and at least Rh that is a noble metal catalyst carried on the support, and the catalyst layer on the downstream side includes a support and Pd or Pt that is a noble metal catalyst carried on the support. In the support in the catalyst layer on the upstream side, the mass proportion of ACZ material/(ACZ material+AZ material) is in the range of 0.33 to 0.5, and greater than or equal to 75% mass Rh is carried on the Al.sub.2O.sub.3—ZrO.sub.2 binary composite oxide of the support.