Transport hydroxylation reactor

A continuous process for converting benzene or a derivative thereof to phenol or a derivative thereof comprises continuously activating alpha -sites on a zeolite catalyst by contacting the catalyst with a free oxidant activator, thereby producing an activated zeolite hydroxylation catalyst, and separately and continuously contacting benzene or a derivative thereof with the activated zeolite catalyst, thereby producing phenol or a derivative thereof. The benzene or derivative thereof can be separately contacted with the activated zeolite catalyst by (a) contacting in a reaction vessel that is physically separate and distinct from the vessel in which the catalyst is contacted with the free oxidant activator, (b) contacting in a zone of a vessel that is separate from the zone in that same vessel in which the catalyst is contacted with the free oxidant activator, or (c) contacting with the catalyst in a reaction vessel in a first time pulse, with the benzene or derivative thereof being contacted with the activated zeolite catalyst in a second time pulse in the same reaction vessel which does not overlap substantially with the first time pulse.