Straightforward extraction and selective bioconversion of high purity chitin from Bombyx eri larva: Toward an integrated insect biorefinery.

•Insect cuticles showed a lower mineral content (1.9%) compared to shrimp shells (21.73%).•High purity insect chitin (89.7%) was obtained in only 1 step of extraction compared to the 2-steps shrimp chitin (<65%).•Untreated chitins extracted from Bombyx eri larva, exhibit a better enzymatic digestibility in comparison to the commercially available chitin from shrimp shells.•After [C2mim][OAc]-pretreatment, a very competitive yields of GlcNAc can be achieved by chitinase-catalyzed hydrolysis (899.2 mg/g of chitin).•Fermentescibility of chitin hydrolysates with a natural wild-type yeast strain was demonstrated.•Better enzymatic digestibility was observed with untreated insect chitin compared to commercially shrimp chitin