Method for managing a desulphurization phase of a catalyst device

Disclosed is a method for managing a desulphurization phase of a catalyst device 12 of an internal combustion engine 10) wherein the method comprises the steps of. sampling the temperature Tiof the catalyst device 12 during a rich combustion mode of the desulphurization phase, of correlating each temperature measure Tito a weight factor WFi, of multiplying the weight factor WFiby the rich time tispent by the catalyst device 12 at the correspondent temperature Ti, in order to calculate a weighted rich time WRTiof adding the weighted rich times WRTicalculated from the beginning of the desulphurization phase, in order to calculate a cumulative weighted rich time CWRT, and of ending the desulphurization phase when the cumulative weighted rich time CWRT reaches a predetermined level CWRT. The method basically sets a desired amount of energy necessary for desulphurisation, the desired cumulative weighted rich time value, and sums the energy released over all temperature ranges. Different temperature ranges vary in efficiency of removing the sulphur from the convertor and this is represented by the weighting factor. Also disclosed is a computer program for carrying out the method, a computer program product with the computer program stored on it, an internal combustion engine having the necessary devices and an ECU with the computer program stored on a data carrier associated with the ECU and an electromagnetic signal modulated as a carrier of data bits representing the computer program.