A parametrized reduced-order model is constructed and employed as a surrogate for the full-order model in optimization and uncertainty quantification of nonlinear simulated moving bed chromatography. The reduced-order model is obtained by the reduced basis method using an efficient error estimation. The complexity of the model is reduced by an empirical interpolation method applied to the nonlinear part of the model. Due to the reduced size and complexity of the surrogate model, the processes of optimization and uncertainty quantification are sped up by a factor of 10.