Abstract: Dendrolimus punctatus is one of the most serious forest insect pests.however,it is also a potential bioresource for human.A protocol for preparation of chitin and chitosan from pupae of D.punctatus were developed with the Acid-Alkali method.The optimal techniques for preparation of chitin were as the follows:the pupae was treated with 3% HCl at 35 ℃ for 20 h to demineralize; and then treated with 5% NaOH at 70 ℃ for 10 h for removal of organic substances;and further treated with 11% H₂O₂ at 85 ℃ for 2.5 h to decolorize.The obtained chitin under the conditions was white sheet solid,and its quality reached to the criterion of food grade.The optimal protocol for preparation of chitosan was as the follows:the pupae was extracted with 55% NaOH at 100 ℃ for 6 h.The obtained chitosan under the condition was white sheet solid, and its water content was 3.73% and ash content was O.89%.The degree of deacetylation of the product was 93.22%, and its viscosity was 22.6 mPa·s, and its quality reached to the criterion of food grade.This work provided a feasible technique for producing chitin and chitosan in food grade from the forest insect pest,D.punctatus with certain characters.

Key words: insect resources, Dendrolimus punctatus, chitin, chitosan, preparation