A novel method is proposed for easy calculation of minimum entrainer flow, reflux ratio and location of the column pinch points. These values are required in the first step of the synthesis of an extractive distillation process. The method provides deeper insight into the process and allows a screening of candidate entrainers. The calculated values can be used either as input for a conventional process simulator or as bounds and initial values for a MINLP optimization procedure which will converge fast and safely.