Résumé
The development of UV–visible spectrophotometry methods for the study of polluted soils, composts, and leachates is more and more important since the last two decades. Several qualitative and quantitative methods based on specific wavelengths or the whole spectrum proposed a rapid and simple characterization of leachates, and the study of aqueous and organic extracts of solid matrices (composts) is presented in this chapter. For soils polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons and possibly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, the global concentration evolution of these pollutants is possible with UV spectrophotometry. These methods can also be implemented for the treatment monitoring of leachates during the composting of solid wastes from urban or industrial origin, and during the rehabilitation of polluted soils.