| Summary: | Ultrasound is an emerging decontamination technology with potential use in the global food processing industry. In the present study, we explored power ultrasound for processing aqueous aflatoxin B<sub>1</sub> (AFB<sub>1</sub>). AFB<sub>1</sub> was degraded by 85.1% after 80 min of ultrasound exposure. The reaction products of AFB<sub>1</sub> were identified and their molecular formulae elucidated by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Eight main reaction products were found, and their structures were clarified by parental ion fragmentation. Two degradation pathways were proposed according to the degradation product structures: One involved the addition of H• and OH• radicals, whereas the other involved H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> epoxidation and H•, OH•, and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> oxidation of AFB<sub>1</sub>. Ultrasound treatment significantly reduced AFB<sub>1</sub> bioactivity and toxicity by disrupting the C8=C9 double bond in the furan ring and modifying the lactone ring and methoxy group.
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