During the approximately four decades that elapsed after publication in 1951 of
Dr. Kertesz's now classic book, The Pectic Substances, a fundamental under￾standing of polymers has evolved concurrently with advances in analytical in￾strumentation. The theories and methodologies developed during this interval
are broadly applicable to the galacturonans. These biopolymers, collectively
called pectin, have seldom been discoursed comprehensively in the context of
the new knowledge; nor has this knowledge hitherto been systematically organ￾ized into a sequel to Dr. Kertesz's text. This is the object of The Chemistry and
Technology of Pectin.