The invention relates to a process for the chromatographic separation of components (19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29) of a multiple-component fluid mixture (2a) by means of the Simulated Moving Bed process, in which the multiple-component fluid mixture (2a) and at least one solvent (3a) are passed into a plurality of at least one chamber (10a-10c; 11a-11c; 12a-12c; 13a-13c) or chamber sections containing a solid, at a first and second input (9b, 9d; 9f, 9h), and an extract flow (6a), which contains at least one first component (19, 26, 29) separated from the multiple-component fluid mixture (2a), as well as a raffinate flow (7a), which contains at least one second component (20, 25, 28) separated from the multiple-component fluid mixture (2a) are drawn off from the chambers (10a-10c; 11a-11 c; 12a-12c; 13a-13c) or chamber sections at a first and second outlet (9a, 9c; 9e, 9g), whereby the chambers (10a-10c; 11a-11c; 12a-12c; 13a-13c) or chamber sections forming a closed circuit (8a, 8b; 18) are connected together in series, whereby the concentration of the input multiple-component fluid mixture (2a) and/or a composition of the solvent (3a) is/are changed within the cycle unit.