To　perform　the　enhanced　biological　phosphorus　removal　using　granules　in　continuous-flow　reactor　(CFR),　a　novel　CFR　was　designed　and　applied　in　this　study.　During　the　whole　operation　process,　the　variation　of　efficiency　and　characteristics　of　phosphorus　removal　granular　sludge　(PRGS)　was　investigated　here.　When　the　PRGS　with　good　efficiency　of　phosphorus　and　COD　removal　was　inoculated　from　a　sequencing　batch　reactor　(SBR)　into　the　CFR,　the　phosphate　and　COD　removal　efficiency　reduced　from　99%　to　64%　and　from　98%　to　79%,　respectively.　Moreover,　the　structures　of　the　granules　turned　looser　and　unstable,　and　the　mean　diameter　reduced　from　about　950　mu　m　to　around　600　pm.　However,　after　24　days　of　adaptation,　the　efficiency　and　diameter　recovered　to　the　initial　level.　The　phosphorus　and　COD　removal　efficiency　increased　to　95%　and　96%,　respectively.　Meanwhile,　the　granules　adapting　to　continuous-flow　were　obtained,　and　they　were　characterized　with　loose　structure　and　irregular　shape.　In　the　adaptation　period,　the　PRGS　with　large　size　was　influenced　seriously　but　that　with　small　size　was　not　when　the　PRGS　was　inoculated　from　the　SBR　to　the　CFR.　In　the　initial　period　of　adaptation,　the　metabolism　of　PAOs　was　repressed　and　then　recovered　gradually　in　about　20　days.　Finally,　the　morphological　and　structural　variation　mechanism　of　PRGS　in　the　CFR　was　discussed,　and　it　would　be　helpful　to　guide　the　operation　of　continuous-flow　system　based　on　PRGS　in　practice.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.