The　adsorption　performance　of　organic　matter　and　phosphate　and　the　stability　of　the　organic　matter　and　phosphate　removal　system　were　investigated　under　different　aerobic　hydraulic　retention　time　(tAHR)　using　a　sequence　batch　reactor　(SBR).　The　results　show　that　the　system　has　strong　adsorption　performance　of　organic　matter　and　phosphate　and　the　activated　sludge　exhibit　good　settle-ability　when　the　aerobic　hydraulic　retention　time　is　40-60　min　while　the　poly-hydroxyalkanoate　(PHA)　and　carbon　content　in　sludge　increase　with　the　reduction　of　aerobic　hydraulic　retention　time.　However,　the　adsorption　properties　significantly　deteriorate　and　serious　non-filamentous　sludge　bulking　occur　when　the　aerobic　hydraulic　retention　time　of　30　min　is　employed.　Consequently,　the　aerobic　hydraulic　retention　time　of　30　min　is　not　suitable　for　long-term　operation.　In　consideration　of　the　adsorption　property,　the　potential　of　resource　recovery　and　the　stability　of　the　system,　the　aerobic　hydraulic　retention　time　of　40　min　is　recommended　to　be　the　optimal　aerobic　hydraulic　retention　time　for　the　long-term　operation　of　the　organic　matter　and　phosphate　adsorption　system.　©,　2015,　Central　South　University　of　Technology.　All　right　reserved.