Abstract: A device for evaluating at least one pollution characteristic of natural soils contaminated by hydrocarbon compounds, said device comprising a first heater heating said sample in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, a measuring device determining an amount of hydrocarbon compounds released after feeding the sample into said first heater, a sample transfer device transferring the sample from the first heater into a second heater operating in an oxidizing atmosphere, a CO.sub.2 measuring device determining CO.sub.2 contained each effluent discharged from the two heaters, said CO.sub.2 measuring device measuring continuously the CO.sub.2 throughout the heating cycle of the first and the second heaters and including a device measuring CO contained in each effluent discharged from the two heaters, a temperature controller controlling the temperature of samples waiting to be fed into said heating means, and a device determining the pollution characteristic.

Abstract: A method of evaluating at least on type of pollution characteristic in a soil sample contaminated by hydrocarbon compounds, a method wherein the soil sample is first heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, then in an oxidizing atmosphere. The method comprises several temperature rise stages from which at least five quantities Q.sub.0, Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4 are measured, wherein the quantities represent concentrations of hydrocarbon compounds in the soil sample. At least one type of pollution characteristic of the sample is determined from quantities Q.sub.0, Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3 and Q.sub.4.