Used in pharmaceuticals as a buffering agent to maintain stable pH in drug formulations. Commonly employed in bowel preparation solutions for colonoscopy due to its ability to draw water into the intestines and stimulate evacuation. Serves as an emulsifying agent in processed cheeses to improve texture and melting properties. Applied in water treatment to control scale and corrosion by sequestering metal ions. Utilized in laboratory settings for preparing phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), essential for biological research and diagnostic procedures. Also functions as a nutrient source in microbial culture media.