Filtration, centrifugation and distillation are techniques for the separation of different substances from a mixture. Filtration uses a filter, like filter paper or mesh, to remove materials with a different size, solubility, or texture from the solvent. It primarily separates solid materials from liquids. Centrifugation is a mechanical process involving the use of centrifugal force to separate particles from a solution according to their size, shape, density, medium viscosity and rotor speed. Distillation, on the other hand, separates liquids through the process of heating the solution. As one component of the mixture evaporates, e.g., water vapor, it can then be cooled to condense the substance in a separate container. Distillation, thus, allows the separation of liquids with different boiling temperatures, e.g., ethanol and water. Both techniques are used widely throughout chemical and biological research.