Lithium dodecyl sulfate is primarily used as an anionic surfactant in various industrial and research applications. It is commonly employed in the formulation of detergents and cleaning agents due to its ability to reduce surface tension and enhance the wetting, foaming, and emulsifying properties of solutions. In biochemistry and molecular biology, it serves as a key component in SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) for protein separation and analysis, where it helps denature proteins and impart a uniform charge-to-mass ratio. Additionally, it finds use in the preparation of nanoparticles and as a stabilizer in emulsion polymerization processes. Its surfactant properties also make it suitable for applications in cosmetics, personal care products, and as a dispersing agent in various chemical formulations.