(EN) The invention relates to an extractive distillation composition for at least paritally separating a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds comprising: a. at least on one organic sulfoxide of the formula R1-SO-R2, and b, at least on one organic sulfone of the formula R3-SO2-R4 wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 have at least one carbon atom and can be the same or different, and to processes for extractive distillation employing the extractive distillation composition.