A catalytic converter with excellent OSC performance and NO.sub.x purification performance. The converter includes a substrate with a cell structure through which exhaust gas flows, and a catalyst layer formed on a cell wall surface of the substrate. The catalyst layer includes a lower catalyst layer and an upper catalyst layer, the lower catalyst layer being formed on a surface of the substrate, and the upper catalyst layer being formed on a surface of the lower catalyst layer. The upper catalyst layer includes at least a zirconia support with rhodium carried thereon, and two types of ceria-zirconia-based composite oxides with different specific surface areas, each of the ceria-zirconia-based composite oxides having no rhodium carried thereon. The lower catalyst layer includes an alumina support with platinum carried thereon, and a ceria-zirconia-based composite oxide.

Disclosed is a method for diagnosing a first exhaust treatment component for treatment of an exhaust gas stream comprising means for oxidizing nitric oxide into nitrogen dioxide. A first reduction catalytic converter is arranged upstream said means for oxidizing nitric oxide into nitrogen dioxide, and a second reduction catalytic converter is arranged downstream said means. A reagent is for reduction of nitrogen oxides in said first catalytic converter, and a first sensor measures an occurrence of nitrogen oxide downstream said means but upstream said second reduction catalytic converter. The method comprises: causing a supply of reagent upstream said first reduction catalytic converter to an extent exceeding the extent to which reagent is consumed by the first reduction catalytic converter, determining a first measure of the occurrence of reagent downstream said means for oxidizing, and diagnosing said means for oxidizing nitric oxide into nitrogen dioxide based on said first measure.

There is provided: a NOx occlusion reduction-type catalyst that is provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, occludes NOx in exhaust when the exhaust is in a lean state, and reduces and purifies the occluded NOx when the exhaust is in a rich state; an exhaust injector that is provided in the exhaust passage and is positioned further upstream than the NOx occlusion reduction-type catalyst; a NOx-purging control unit that performs NOx purging of reducing and purifying the NOx occluded in the NOx occlusion reduction-type catalyst by lowering the exhaust to a prescribed target lambda by fuel injection by the exhaust injector; and a NOx-purging-prohibition processing unit that inhibits performance of the NOx purging in a case where the exhaust cannot be lowered to the target lambda even if the fuel injection is performed at a maximum limit injection amount of the exhaust injector.

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.

A lean gasoline exhaust treatment catalyst article is provided, the article comprising a catalytic material applied on a substrate, wherein the catalytic material comprises a first composition and a second composition, wherein the first and second compositions are present in a layered or zoned configuration, the first composition comprising palladium impregnated onto a porous refractory metal oxide material and rhodium impregnated onto a porous refractory metal oxide material; and the second composition comprising platinum impregnated onto a porous refractory metal oxide material. Methods of making and using such catalyst articles and the associated compositions and systems employing such catalyst articles are also described.

A composition for exhaust gas purification including first alumina including alumina containing lanthanum and second alumina including alumina containing lanthanum. The first alumina has a higher lanthanum content than the second alumina. The second alumina has a larger particle size than the first alumina. The lanthanum content of the first alumina is preferably 2 to 12 mass %, in terms of oxide, based on the total mass of alumina and lanthanum oxide of the first alumina. The lanthanum content of the second alumina is preferably 9 mass % or less, in terms of oxide, based on the total mass of alumina and lanthanum oxide of the second alumina.

The present invention relates to cerium oxide particles that have excellent heat resistance especially useful for catalysts, functional ceramics, solid electrolyte for fuel cells, polishing, ultraviolet absorbers and the like, and particularly suitable for use as a catalyst or co-catalyst material, for instance in catalysis for purifying vehicle exhaust gas. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing such cerium oxide particles, and a catalyst, such as for purifying exhaust gas, utilizing these cerium oxide particles.

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, the exhaust system comprising, a lean NO.sub.x trap, and a wall flow monolithic substrate having a pre-coated porosity of 40% or greater, and comprising an oxidation catalytic zone, the oxidation catalytic zone comprising a platinum group metal loaded on a first support, the first support comprising at least one inorganic oxide and a zinc compound.

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.

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.