Catalytic cleaning arrangement for exhaust from an internal combustion engine

In the typical embodiment described in the specification, the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine has two exhaust lines with corresponding catalyst assemblies, each assigned to one group of combustion chambers. During the cold start of the engine, an electric heater included in one of the exhaust lines heats exhaust gases flowing to a first catalyst assembly and the catalyst assemblies are connected in series so that the exhaust gases supplied to the second catalyst assembly are received from the first catalyst assembly. In addition, the ignition point of the engine is retarded after idling speed is reached. To avoid overheating of the catalyst assemblies, the catalyst assemblies receive exhaust gases only after their start-up temperatures are reached from the groups of combustion chambers associated with them and an exhaust cooling line is provided to cool exhaust gases flowing to the first catalyst assembly.