The　SBR　started　up　with　synthetic　water,　the　ability　to　degrade　phenol　by　aerobic　granular　sludge　and　the　effect　of　phenol　on　aerobic　granular　sludge　characteristics　were　investigated　by　increasing　the　influent　phenol　concentration　gradually.　After　55　days　of　operation,　the　influent　phenol　concentration　reached　3　000　mg/L,　while　removal　efficiencies　of　phenol,　COD　and　NH4+-N　were　98.33%,　97.27%　and　57.58%,　respectively　and　aerobic　granular　sludge　showed　an　excellent　phenol　removal　ability.　The　scanning　electron　microscope　image　illustrated　the　granular　sludge　surface　becomes　more　smoother　and　the　granular　has　a　more　compact　structure　after　adding　phenol.　The　infrared　spectrum　analysis　of　extracecellular　polymers　(EPS)　showed　that　the　components　of　EPS　have　no　obvious　change　after　adding　phenol.The　phenol　toxicity　stimulated　the　granular　sludge　to　secrete　more　EPS,　the　polysaccharide　in　EPS　increased　from　12.70　mg/g　VSS　to　35.17　mg/g　VSS　while　the　protein　in　EPS　increased　from　4.93　mg/g　VSS　to　8.01　mg/g　VSS.　Sludge　particle　size　increased　significantly　for　the　phenol　addition,　the　main　particle　size　increased　from　0.5~2.0　mm　to　above　2.0　mm.