Greater efficiency in a water-alkaline emulsion cumene oxidation process using a cascade of reactors is obtained by splitting the reactor cascade into 2 stages with the first stage utilizing NH.sub.4 NaCO.sub.3 as the active carbonate in the stage containing less than 18% by weight cumene hydroperoxide and using Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 as the active carbonate in the stage containing more than 18% by weight cumene hydroperoxide. By directly injecting ammonia into a recycle stream organic acids are efficiently neutralized. A counter current water wash of the second stage also increases process efficiency by scrubbing out unwanted impurities. Control of pH in the process improves efficiency and reduces impurity levels.