Rectification is the most commonly used but not always the most economical method of thermal separation. Above all in the case of closely boiling mixtures it becomes very demanding with regard to both equipment and energy. It is often possible to replace rectification by another energetically more favourable separation process such as liquid-liquid distillation, decantation, or absorption. Owing to the resulting wealth of possibilities for the separation of a mixture it is desirable to gain further knowledge about the economics of individual processes and about the selection of suitable entrainers under given conditions.