Method of treating waste water

This patent describes a process of treating water to reduce the concentration of the transuranic elements contained therein. It comprises: adjusting the pH of a transuranic element-containing water source to within the range of about 6.5 to about 14.0; admixing the water source with an alkali or alkaline earth ferrate in an amount sufficient to form a precipitate within the water source, the amount of ferrate effective to reduce the transuranic element concentration in the water source; allowing the precipitate in the admixture to separate and thereby yield a supernatant liquid having a reduced transuranic element concentration; and separating the supernatant liquid having the reduced transuranic element concentration from the admixture