Device for an internal combustion engine and method for operating the device

A device for an internal combustion engine for combustion of a gasoline-based liquid fuel, the device comprising:

• a tank that is gas-conductively connected to the internal combustion engine via an exhaust gas line and a first shutoff valve;
• a hydrocarbon storage unit that is gas-conductively disposed between the tank and the internal combustion engine via the exhaust gas line, for temporarily storing gaseous hydrocarbon contained in an exhaust gas escaping from the tank;
• a hydrocarbon sensor that is gas-conductively disposed between the tank and the internal combustion engine via the exhaust gas line, for measuring a hydrocarbon content in a purging air supplied to the internal combustion engine, the hydrocarbon storage unit being connectable to the free surroundings via a connecting line and a second shutoff valve;
• and
• exactly one pump being operative connection with the first and second shutoff valves for generating an overpressure or an underpressure in the exhaust gas line or the exhaust gas line and the tank and for transporting purging air formed from ambient air sucked in from the surroundings via the connecting line and the hydrocarbon temporarily stored in the hydrocarbon storage unit from the hydrocarbon storage unit to the internal combustion engine.