A　sequencing　batch　reactor　(SBR)　was　operated　to　investigate　the　effect　of　granular　activated　carbon　(GAC)　augmentation　on　aerobic　granulation.　Aerobic　granular　sludge　(AGS)　was　augmented　with　GAC　(mean　diameter　of　0.1-0.3　mm),　whose　dosage　was　1%　of　the　effective　volume　of　the　SBR.　The　results　demonstrated　that　GAC　could　enhance　the　sludge　granulation　process　in　SBR.　The　mature　AGS　was　harvested　after　20　days　of　cultivation.　SEM　analysis　documented　that　the　AGS　had　dense　and　porosity　microbial　structure,　and　contained　abundant　microorganisms.　Live/dead　fluorescent　staining　showed　that　dead　cells　were　distributed　throughout　the　granules　and　live　cells　were　principally　found　in　the　outer　layer.　The　fluorescent　staining　of　extracellular　polymeric　substances　showed　that　the　protein　and　polysaccharide(including　α-mannopyranosyl,　α-glucopyranosyl　sugars　and　β-D-glucopyranose　polysaccharides)were　all　distributed　throughout　the　granules.　The　contents　of　protein　and　polysaccharide　were　similar　to　each　other,　however,　the　contents　of　β-D-glucopyranose　polysaccharides　was　the　largest.　It　can　be　concluded　that　GAC　could　accelerate　the　formation　of　AGS.