A process for continuous or quasi-continuous purification of a multi-component mixture (F) by means of individual chromatographic columns through which the mixture is fed by means of at least one solvent (s), is proposed. The multi-component mixture (F) at least comprises light impurities (A), an intermediate product (B) to be purified and heavy impurities (C), and the columns are grouped into at least four sections (α, β, γ, δ), in which the first section (α) is provided with at least one inlet of solvent (s) and at least one outlet for purified intermediate product (B), such that it washes the purified intermediate product (B) out of the system, but keeps the heavy impurities (C) inside the section (α), the one inlet of solvent (β) and at least one outlet connected to an inlet of the fourth section (δ), such that it washes the intermediate product (B), which is contaminated with heavy impurities (C) into the fourth section (δ) through said outlet, but keeps the pure heavy impurities (C) inside the section (β), the third section (γ) is provided with at least one inlet of solvent (s) and an outlet for heavy impurities (C), such that it washes out the heavy impurities (C) through said outlet and cleans the chromatographic column(s), the fourth section (δ) is provided with at least one inlet to receive output of the outlet of the second section (β) as well as at least one inlet for feeding in the multi-component mixture (F) and at least one outlet for light impurities (A), such that it washes the light impurities (A) out of the system, but keeps the intermediate product (B) inside the section (δ), wherein after or within a switch time (t*) the last column from the first section (α) is moved to the first position of the second section (β), the last column of the second section (β) is moved to the first position of the third section (γ), the last column of the third section (γ) is moved to the first position of the fourth section (δ) and the last column of the fourth section (δ) is moved to become the first column of the first section (α).