The bench-scale EGSB (expanded granular sludge bed) reactor was operated to study the effect of sludge loading rate, pH value and nutrient element on the operation of the EGSB reactor and the control rule of these factors. Continuous flow was used to treat synthetic wastewater containing dextrose and beer, and the temperature of reactor was controlled at mesophiles temperature (33 ℃). The experimental results demonstrated that the proper sludge loading rate was 0.9-1.42 kg COD/(kg VSS·d); the pH value in the reactor was controlled by adding sodium bicarbonate, the proper additive quantity was 1000-1200 mg/L; the additive quantity of nutrient element was as follows: 41.3 mg/(SS·d) of FeCl2·4H2O, 4.3 mg/(SS·d) of CoCl2·6H2O, 8.2 mg/(SS·d) of NiCl2·6H2O, 7.5-13 mg/(SS·d) of CaCO3,and 56.7-22.7 mg/(SS·d) of 7Na2S·9H2O, respectively. When these parameters were properly determined, the EGSB reactor could treat wastewater with 400-5000 mg/L COD concentration. The COD removal efficiency was over 85%. The operation of the EGSB reactor was steady and the EGSB reactor had strong anti-shock load ability.