The invention relates to a chromatographic method for material separation in the production of chemicals such as chiral pharmaceuticals, isomers or biomolecules on a large and small scale, based on simulated moving bed technology (SMB). The invention especially relates to a method for material separation using a simulated moving bed method whereby a product mixture to be separated and the eluant are continuously fed to a column switching system consisting of more than one chromatography column connected in series and filled with an adsorbing agent, and at least one extract flow containing a separated component and a raffinate flow containing at least one other component are continuously removed in different locations of the column switching system, and whereby a relative movement between a liquid, mobile phase consisting of the product mixture and the eluant and the adsorbing agent in the solid phase is generated by sequentially opening liquid feed and removal positions along the column. The method according to the invention is characterized in that only an eluant feed pump and an eluant compensation reservoir but no circulation pump is used in the circuit.