To further improve NOx purification capability by increasing HC availability efficiency.

This device is used to reduce and purify NOx by supplying HC in exhaust emission gas excessively including oxygen and is provided with a small quantity precious metal carrying area in a part of at least one honeycomb catalyst excluding the honeycomb catalyst arranged lowest stream out of a plurality of honeycomb catalysts. Since in the small quantity precious metal carrying area, HC is hardly oxidized and flows into honeycombs downstream, HC is consumed for reducing NOx even in honeycombs downstream, improving HC availability efficiency.