Used as a food additive to provide sour taste in beverages, gelatin desserts, and baking powders. Acts as an acidulant in wine and fruit drinks to adjust pH and enhance flavor stability. Employed in the production of unsaturated polyester resins for fiberglass-reinforced plastics used in automotive and marine industries. Serves as a intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, including treatments for psoriasis and multiple sclerosis. Utilized in animal feed to prevent microbial growth and improve feed efficiency. Also applied in the manufacture of biodegradable polymers and as a building block in green chemistry processes.