This work conducted a denitrifying sulfide removal (DSR) test in an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor at sustainable loadings of 6.09 kg m(-3) day(-1) for sulfide, 3.11 kg m(-3) day(-1) for nitrate-nitrogen, and 3.27 kg m(-1) day(-1) for acetate-carbon with >93% efficiency, which is significantly higher than those reported in literature. Strains Pseudomonas sp., Nitrincola sp., and Azoarcus sp. very likely yield heterotrophs. Strains Thermothrix sp. and Sulfurovum sp. are the autotrophs required for the proposed high-rate EGSB-DSR system. The EGSB-DSR reactor experienced two biological breakdowns, one at loadings of 4.87, 2.13, and 1.82 kg m(-3) day(-1); reactor function was restored by increasing nitrate and acetate loadings. Another breakdown occurred at loadings of up to 8.00, 4.08, and 4.50 kg m(-1) day(-1); the heterotrophic denitrification pathway declined faster than the autotrophic pathway. The mechanism of DSR breakdown is as follows. High sulfide concentration inhibits heterotrophic denitrifiers, and the system therefore accumulates nitrite. Autotrophic denitrifiers are then inhibited by the accumulated nitrite, thereby leading to breakdown of the DSR process.