A hydrocarbon selective catalytic reduction (HC-SCR) catalyst is regenerated using a nitrogen-based reductant agent. The HC-SCR catalyst is in communication with a power system such as an internal combustion engine and receives exhaust gasses from the internal combustion engine. Sulfur in the exhaust gasses may deactivate the HC-SCR catalyst by sulfur oxides forming thereon. To remove the sulfur oxides, a nitrogen-based reductant agent is introduced to the exhaust gasses. The nitrogen-based reductant agent decomposes to nitrogen oxides and hydrogen. The hydrogen reacts with the sulfur oxides to form hydrogen sulfides thereby removing the sulfur oxides from the HC-SCR catalyst.