(a) providing said at least one sequential reactor, at least one reactor thereof comprising at least one airlift-type tray and at least one air-free area;

(b) conducting the cumene oxidation reaction in said at least one sequential reactor, in one of said at least one sequential reactor until a predetermined threshold CHP concentration is reached;

(c) during said step (b), fracturing a first plurality of air bubbles formed during the cumene oxidation reaction having a first oxygen contact area, by said at least one airlift-type tray, to generate a greater plurality of smaller air bubbles having a second oxygen contact area greater than said first oxygen contact area and having a longer residence time in said at least one sequential reactor, thereby accelerating the cumene oxidation reaction;

(d) discharging an oxidate, resulting from said accelerated cumene oxidation reaction, from said at least one of said air-free areas of said at least one sequential reactor;

(e) selectively causing contact between said oxidate and an aqueous base solution, to remove at least one reaction inhibitor, such that after said contact, said oxidate comprises an aqueous phase and an organic phase, wherein said step (e) is performed at least once; and

(f) selectively physically separating said aqueous phase from said organic phase and:

(1) when said at least one sequential reactor comprises a single reactors recycling said organic phase to said single reactor to perform said steps (a) to (f) until a predetermined required CHP concentration is achieved, and

(2) when said at least one sequential reactor comprises a plurality of sequential reactors, passing said organic phase to a next plural sequential reactor to perform said steps (a) to (f) until said predetermined required CHP concentration is achieved, and recycling said organic phase to a first of said plural sequential reactors when said step (a) has been performed in a east plural sequential reactor, and said predetermined required CHP concentration has not yet been achieved.