Abstract: A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases includes a support including at le one composite selected from the group consisting of TiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and SiO.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 composites, an NO.sub.x adsorbent including at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals and rare-earth elements and loaded on the support, and a noble metal catalyst ingredient loaded on the support. The composites constituting the support improve initial NO.sub.x conversion of the catalyst, but also inhibit NO.sub.x purifying performance thereof from degrading even after a durability test.

Abstract: A method for purifying an exhaust gas by simultaneously removing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas, comprising bringing the oxygen rich exhaust gas into contact with an exhaust gas purifying catalyst comprised of at least one noble metal selected from the group consisting of platinum and palladium, at least one alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of barium, magnesium, calcium, and strontium, and at least one alkali metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, and cobalt, supported on a carrier composed of a porous substance.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases includes a heat resistant support, a porous layer coated on the heat resistant support, a noble metal catalyst ingredient loaded on the porous layer, and an NO.sub.x storage component including at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkaline-earth metals, rare-earth elements and alkali metals, and loaded on the porous layer. In the catalyst, the noble metal catalyst ingredient and the NO.sub.x storage component are disposed adjacent to each other, and are dispersed uniformly in the porous layer. In fuel-lean (i.e., oxygen-rich) atmospheres, NO present in exhaust gases is oxidized to NO.sub.2 by the noble metal catalyst ingredient, and at the same time the resulting NO.sub.2 is stored in the NO.sub.x storage component which is disposed adjacent to the nobel metal catalyst. In the stoichiometric or fuel-rich (i.e., oxygen-lean) atmospheres, the stored NO.sub.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas for simultaneously removing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas under an oxygen rich atmosphere, comprising a carrier composed of a porous material, and barium oxide, lanthanum oxide and platinum supported on the carrier, and a method for purifying an exhaust gas by bringing the exhaust gas under an oxygen rich atmosphere into contact with the above-mentioned catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases includes a porous support, an NO.sub.x storage component including at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkaline-earth metals, rare-earth elements and alkali metals, and loaded on the porous support, a noble metal catalyst ingredient loaded on the porous support, and disposed adjacent to the NO.sub.x storage component, and ceria (CeO.sub.2) disposed away from the noble metal catalyst ingredient. By disposing the noble metal catalyst ingredient adjacent to the NO.sub.x storage component, the reduction reactions of NO.sub.x can be facilitated in fuel-rich (i.e., oxygen-lean) atmospheres without being interfered by the ceria. By disposing the ceria away from the noble metal catalyst ingredient, oxygen, which has been stored thereon in fuel-lean (i.e., oxygen-rich) atmospheres, can be released from the ceria at a controlled rate in a controlled amount in fuel-rich (i.e.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying exhaust gases includes a porous support, at least one catalyst ingredient selected from Pt and Pd, and additional ingredients including (1) at least two rare-earth elements including La, (2) at least one rare-earth element including La and at least one transition element selected from Fe, Ni, Co and Mn, (3) at least two alkali metals, (4) at least one alkali metal and at least one rare-earth element including La, (5) at least one alkali metal and at least one transition element selected from Fe, Ni, Co and Mn, (6) at least two alkaline-earth metals, (7) at least one alkaline-earth metal and at least one rare-earth element including La, or (8) Ba, Li, La, Ce and Zr. A process for purifying an exhaust gas, by contacting the catalyst with an exhaust gas, is also provided.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases at the stoichiometric point or in oxygen-rich atmosphere, is disclosed, and it includes a porous support, at least one noble metal catalyst ingredient loaded on the porous support, and selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium and rhodium, and at least one NO.sub.X adsorbent loaded on the porous support, selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals and rare-earth elements, and having an average particle diameter falling in a range of from 0.1 to 20 micrometers. A process for purifying, by bringing the exhaust gases into contact with the catalyst, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for purifying an exhaust gas comprising carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides by periodically adjusting exhaust gas conditions from lean-burn to fuel-rich and by using a catalyst comprising an alumina support with lithium dissolved therein to form a solid solution, at least one first ingredient selected from the group consisting of platinum and palladium loaded on the alumina support, and at least one second ingredient selected from the group consisting of alkali elements, alkaline-earth elements, and rare-earth elements loaded on the support. Sulfates formed from sulfur oxides in the exhaust gas are decomposed by the lithium under the fuel-rich conditions to inhibit the alumina support from being acidified.