This study presents the efficiency of Fenton process in the degradation of organic compounds of nuclear laundry water. The influence of Fe(2+) and hydrogen peroxide ratio, hydrogen peroxide dose, pH and treatment time were investigated. The degradation of non-ionic surfactant and other organic compounds was analysed as COD, TOC and molecular weight distribution (MWD). The most cost-effective degradation conditions were at H(2)O(2)/Fe(2+) stoichiometric molar ratio of 2 with 5 min mixing and H(2)O(2) dose of 1000 mg l(-1). With the initial pH of 6, the reductions of COD and TOC were 85% and 69%, respectively. However, the removal of the organic compounds was mainly carried out by Fenton-based Fe(3+) coagulation rather than Fenton oxidation. Fenton process proved to be much more efficient than previously performed ozone-based oxidation processes.