Abstract: In a method and a device for monitoring the operability of an emission control system of an internal combustion engine, at least two catalytic converters are situated in succession in an exhaust duct. For tracking control, breakthrough detection for diagnosing the first catalytic converter, and for a second balancing for the storage capacity of oxygen or rich gas of the second catalytic converter, a two-point lambda probe be used and, for the latter, tolerance and aging effects are compensated. This results in particular in cost advantages in emission control systems for fulfilling stricter emission and diagnostic requirements.

Abstract: In a method and device for controlling and/or monitoring the function of a secondary air supply in an emission control system of an internal combustion engine, the emission control system includes at least two catalytic converters situated in succession in an exhaust duct, it being possible for the second catalytic converter to be implemented as a combination of catalytic converter and particulate filter. For a secondary air diagnosis and for secondary air control, a two-point lambda probe is situated, with respect to a direction of flow of exhaust gas, downstream of the first catalytic converter. Measures are applied for compensating tolerance and aging effects of the two-point lambda probe. This results in particular in cost advantages in emission control systems for fulfilling stricter emission requirements. In particular, this makes it possible to operate the particulate filter in optimized fashion.

Abstract: Process for hydrophobing a leather tanned with organic tanning agents, characterized in that the leather is treated with a preparation containing at least one alkylalkoxysilane of the formula I R1R2 Si(OR3)(OR4)??(I), in which R1 represents a C1-C30-hydrocarbon radical, in particular an aliphatic, preferably an aliphatic, saturated C6-C20-radical, particularly preferably hexadecyl or octadecyl, R3 and R4, independently of one another, represent a C1-C10-hydrocarbon radical, in particular an aliphatic C1-C10-radical, preferably saturated, particularly preferably a C1-C4-radical, methyl, ethyl, propyl or isopropyl being preferred, and R2, independently of R1, has the meaning of R1 or represents OR3 or OR4.