Widely used as a disinfectant and sterilant, glutaraldehyde solution is essential in healthcare settings for cold sterilization of medical equipment such as endoscopes, dialysis machines, and surgical instruments that cannot withstand heat. It effectively kills bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores, making it ideal for high-level disinfection.

In industrial applications, it serves as a biocide in water treatment systems to control microbial growth in cooling towers and oilfield fluids. It is also used in the tanning industry to improve the durability and shrink resistance of leather.

In laboratories, glutaraldehyde is a common fixative in electron microscopy, preserving cellular structures due to its strong cross-linking ability with proteins. Additionally, it finds use in tissue fixation for histology and pathology specimens.

Another key application is in the oil and gas sector, where it controls bacterial contamination in drilling and fracturing fluids, helping prevent souring and corrosion caused by sulfate-reducing bacteria.