PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chitosan solution stable at near neutral and its dried product, these are widely applicable to the fields of cosmetics, foodstuff and the like.SOLUTION: The stable aqueous chitosan solution containing chitosan solubilized with use of an inorganic or organic acid, has pH of neutral, preferably pH 6 to 7, without including any excess acid practically, and is processed to a dried product thereof. The chitosan solution is deacidified to the extent of giving no acidic stimulation to the skin. A method of producing the aqueous chitosan solution is characterized by that chitosan is dissolved in an acid, then the excess acid is removed giving the near neutral stable aqueous chitosan solution by controlling a water content of the chitosan solution, after removing the excess acid, so that concentration of the chitosan may keep a constant value providing pH of near neutral. After removal of the excess acid, and chitosan is treated with an adsorbent. The chitosan is dispersed in water and is dissolved by adding an inorganic or organic acid. The excess acid is removed by using a strong or weak basic anion exchange resin or chitosan derived from a natural product.COPYRIGHT: (C)2002,JPO【課題】 化粧品や食品等の分野で広く利用できる、中性付近で安定なキトサン溶液やその乾燥物の提供。【解決手段】 無機酸または有機酸を用いて可溶化したキトサンを含み、実質上過剰な酸を含有せず中性付近のpHをもつ、好ましくはpHが6~7である、安定なキトサン水溶液およびその乾燥物。酸のもつ皮膚刺激性がない状態まで脱酸されたものである。キトサンを酸に溶解し、ついで過剰な酸を除去して中性付近で安定なキトサン水溶液を得ることを特徴とするキトサン水溶液の製造方法。過剰な酸を除去した後、キトサンが一定濃度になるように水分調整し、pHが中性付近の水溶液を得ることを特徴とする。過剰な酸を除去した後、キトサン溶液を吸着剤で処理する。キトサンを水に分散させ、そこに酸を加え溶解する。酸が無機酸または有機酸である。強塩基性陰イオン交換樹脂、弱塩基性陰イオン交換樹脂、あるいは天然物由来キトサンを用いて過剰な酸を除去する。
