This study optimized a homogeneous photo-Fenton process for the simultaneous degradation of the emerging pesticides atrazine and methomyl in water using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). A synthetic agricultural effluent containing 2.0 mg L⁻¹ of each pesticide (COD = 103.2 mg O₂ L⁻¹; TOC = 26.1 mg C L⁻¹; BOD₅ = 45.8 mg O₂ L⁻¹) was treated in a recirculating UV–H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ reactor. A 2³ factorial design with replication and five central points identified the H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ ratio and irradiation time as the main factors controlling mineralization, achieving up to 88.9% COD removal in the best screening run. Steepest-ascent experiments were then performed to approach the region of maximum response, followed by a rotatable Central Composite Design (20 runs). The resulting quadratic model explained 98.14% of the COD variance (R² = 0.9814; adjusted R² = 0.9646; predicted R² = 0.8591; CV = 0.2736%) and predicted a maximum COD removal of 94.5% at a volumetric flow rate of 0.466 L min⁻¹, a Fenton ratio of 12.713 mg mg⁻¹, and a treatment time of 71.0 min. Experimental validation under these optimized conditions yielded highly reproducible removals of 94.2 ± 0.04% COD and 81% TOC, confirming the predictive capability of the RSM model and demonstrating a high degree of organic mineralization. The response surfaces revealed that increasing the Fenton ratio enhances oxidation up to an optimum, beyond which hydroxyl-radical self-scavenging slightly decreases efficiency. Overall, the integration of multivariable experimental design and RSM provided a robust framework to maximize photo-Fenton performance with moderate reagent consumption and operating time, consolidating this process as a viable alternative for the mitigation of pesticide-laden agricultural wastewaters.

This study aimed to bibliometrically analyze the scientific production on pre-Hispanic agricultural technologies, highlighting their potential to address contemporary challenges related to food security and sustainability. To achieve this, 584 documents from SCOPUS (1932–2024) were examined using VOSviewer and CiteSpace, enabling the mapping of co-authorship networks, keywords, and institutional collaborations, as well as reviewing citation indicators, h-index, and g-index.The results indicate a substantial increase in publications since the 1980s, with accelerated growth from the 2000s onward. The United States leads in publication volume, followed by the United Kingdom, China, India, and France. Prominent among the research institutions are multidisciplinary centers specializing in archaeology, ecology, and biotechnology. Influential journals in the field include Journal of Archaeological Science, The Holocene, and Vegetation History and Archaeobotany. The keyword analysis underscores the significance of ancestral agricultural systems (raised fields, terraces, chinampas) and the integration of modern methodologies (genomics, remote sensing) to enhance their applicability in climate change scenarios. In conclusion, the growing attention to these technologies highlights their value as viable and sustainable alternatives, rooted in agroecological diversity, to strengthen food security and increase the resilience of modern agricultural systems.