The simulated moving-bed (SMB) chromatographic separation of the Troger's base enantiomers with ethanol as eluent on microcrystalline triacetate cellulose was studied. An experimental technique to design nonlinear SMB separations with few column experiments is presented. This shortcut technique allows the rigorous solution of the Equilibrium Theory model to be approximated without knowing the adsorption equilibria, and therefore can be useful in developing new separations. The predictions of the shortcut method are compared with the experimental results of the SMB separation. The effect of the feed concentration and of the nonideal contributions, such as mass-transfer resistance and extracolumn band broadening are elucidated.