A continuous method of cumene oxidation in a gas-liquid system is
provided, where the liquid phase is represented by cumene and its
oxidation products and the gas phase is represented by air. The oxidation
process can be carried out either in a reactor series or in a single
reactor at least one of which is preferably equipped with at least two
airlift-type trays. When specific CHP concentration is achieved, the
oxidation products are discharged from the to reaction zone and treated
in a mixing device with aqueous ammonia or water to remove organic acids
such as formic acid, benzoic acid, etc. and to remove phenol, which is an
inhibitor of oxidation reaction. The cumene oxidation product stream,
free of organic acids and phenol is recycled to the same reactor in the
case of single reactor, or is passed to the next reactor of the series in
the case of reactor series. In all cases, the oxidation products treated
with water or aqueous ammonia is first directed to a unit for separation
of aqueous phase from organic products and then anhydrous organic product
stream is forwarded to the next reactor of the series, or recycled to the
single reactor for the continued cumene oxidation until the required CHP
concentration is achieved. The airlift-type trays in at least one process
reactor accelerate the cumene oxidation reaction therein while increasing
the process selectivity and enabling the process to be conducted at lower
temperature, improving safety thereof. Advantageously, lower quality
cumene having impurities such as sulfur-containing trace elements, can be
used in the inventive process while maintaining a high process
selectivity.