The soot removal process in presence of a series of LNT-catalysts, and different reaction atmospheres, has been studied, using thermogravimetric analysis coupled to mass spectrometry (TG-MS) time-resolved experiments. Kinetic parameters have been estimated, using a distribution function of activation energy: where the frequency factor was correlated approximately with the activation energies which enable the decoupling of the processes involved in the regeneration by soot removal over those synthesized catalysts. It was found that soot removal is a sequential process that is strongly dependent on the formulation and surface structure of the catalyst and atmosphere of reaction. K-containing LNT catalysts showed a high activity in the soot removal process by gasification (Ea approximate to 70-90kJ mol(-1)), promoted by surface hydroxylated centers, decreasing the ignition temperature in oxygen atmosphere. NO + O-2 atmosphere, more oxidizing than O-2, provokes in addition a reduction in the soot removal temperature due to a direct reaction between soot and NO2 (gas) and/or the adsorbed NOx onto the catalyst surface. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.