Abstract: A catalyst system for the treatment of exhaust gases from a diesel engine includes a first and a second catalyst reducing catalyst arranged in series in an exhaust gas treatment system. The first catalyst is located near the engine in a region of the exhaust gas treatment system in which the exhaust gas temperature reaches temperatures of more than 200° C. under full engine load. The second catalyst is located further from the engine in a region of the exhaust gas treatment system in which the exhaust gas temperature reaches a maximum of 500° C. under full engine load. The maximum nitrogen oxides reduction in the first catalyst takes place at a lower temperature than the maximum nitrogen oxides reduction in the second catalyst.

Abstract: A single-layered three-way catalytic converter containing palladium as the only catalytically active noble metal, with high activity and heat resistance. The catalyst contains, in addition to finely divided, stabilized aluminum oxide, at least one finely divided cerium/zirconium mixed oxide and optionally finely divided nickel oxide as well as highly dispersed amounts of cerium oxide, zirconium oxide and barium oxide. The palladium is distributed largely uniformly throughout the entire catalyst.

Abstract: A process of operating a nitrogen oxides storage catalyst of an exhaust gas treatment system is described. The process relates to the cycling of the normalized air/fuel ratio &lgr;-value of the exhaust gas exiting the engine, in which a lambda value greater than 1 represents oxygen-rich, lean burn conditions in which a sorption phase for the sorption of nitrogen oxides takes place; and in which a lambda value less than 1 represents oxygen-poor, rich burn conditions in which a desorption and conversion phase for the desorption and conversion of nitrogen oxides takes place. The &lgr;-value of the exhaust gas downstream from the storage catalyst is monitored during the desorption and conversion phase to determine the end of the desorption and conversion phase based on the &lgr;-value falling below a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A method of depositing catalytically active components on high-surface carrier materials is disclosed by dispersing the carrier materials in water and mixing this dispersion with an aqueous solution of soluble precursors of the catalytically active components. The pH of the dispersion is adjusted to a value between 6 and 8 before the aqueous solution of the precursors is supplied by capillary injection under constant agitation of the dispersion and thereafter, if necessary, the precursors of the catalytically active components are precipitated on the carrier material by capillary injection of a dilute base.

Abstract: A method of purifying the lean exhaust gas of lean mix engines or diesel engines. The exhaust gas is first contacted with a permanent reduction catalyst and subsequently contacted with a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst. This procedure yields a uniformly good conversion of pollutants of the exhaust gases under differing operating conditions both as regards the air ratios and the exhaust gas temperatures.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification catalyst with improved hydrocarbon conversion is disclosed, which contains metals from the platinum group as its catalytically active components. Two superposed functional layers are applied to one support. The catalyst has a first functional layer with a mixture of a first catalyst with at least one zeolite and the second functional layer applied to the first functional layer which contains a mixture of a second catalyst and at least one zeolite. The zeolites exhibit a molar ratio of silicon dioxide/aluminum oxide of more than 40 and in that at least palladium and rhodium are present as the platinum group metals and are each contained separately from one another in only one of the two catalysts. The catalyst is distinguished by particularly good suppression of hydrocarbon emissions during cold-starting and exhibits particularly good long-term stability.

Abstract: An oxidation catalyst for internal combustion engines which contains platinum on a finely divided support material and containing lead as a promoter. The catalytic activity of the oxidation catalyst can be increased greatly by promoting the catalyst with lead at a molar ratio of lead to platinum of 2:1. The light-off temperatures of the promoted catalyst are well below the corresponding temperatures for a conventional, lead-free catalyst.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for lowering nitrogen oxide levels in combustion engine exhaust gas by a reduction catalyst and by controlling the exhaust gas temperature upstream from the catalyst to a constant value, at which the catalyst exhibits maximum conversion for nitrogen oxides. It is possible to maintain maximum conversion over a wide range of engine outlet temperatures of the exhaust gas.

Abstract: An auxiliary heating system for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine. The auxiliary heating includes an emission control catalyst and a heat exchanger, integrated in the converter housing in front of and/or behind the catalyst, which provides the reaction heat released by the catalyst and the remaining heat of the exhaust gas to the heating of the passenger compartment. The heat generation may be increased by the injection of a fuel/air mixture before the catalyst and by using the catalyst as a catalytic burner and can be adapted to the heat requirements. The auxiliary heating of the invention prevents possible thermal damage of the catalyst during operation as a catalytic burner without many regulating elements by cooling the catalyst radiation. For this purpose, the heat exchanger is provided with an exchange surface which can freely exchange radiation with the radiant surface of the catalytic element.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying the exhaust gases from diesel engines. The catalyst contains a zeolite mixture of several zeolites with different moduli and platinum group metals as well as further metal oxides from the group aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide and titanium oxide, wherein the aluminum silicate has a ratio by weight of silicon dioxide to aluminum oxide of 0.005 to 1 and the platinum group metals are deposited on only the further metal oxides.