The influence of acid and alkaline solutions on tissue of defatted silkworm chrysalis

Defatted silkworm chrysalis was soaked in water, hydrochloric acid solution(1%wt) and sodium hydroxide solution (1%wt) respectively at 100 centigrade for 20 minutes. After the treatment, the structure of defatted silkworm chrysalis was observed by electron optical microscope analysis and the soaking solution was determined qualitatively. The results showed that: (1)soaked in water, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solution, the protein and chitin expanded; sodium hydroxide solution made the interlayer of protein and chitin cleaved. (2)in hydrochloric acid solution, the decomposed production of protein was amino acid, while in sodium hydroxide solution, protein dissolved markedly and certain amount of protein was decomposed to amino acid that could be broken down into ammonia further.