Used in water treatment to prevent scale and corrosion by dispersing minerals and keeping them suspended. Commonly found in detergents and cleaning products as a builder to enhance cleaning efficiency by controlling water hardness. Employed in personal care products like toothpaste and lotions as a thickening and stabilizing agent. Utilized in agriculture for soil conditioning and as a superabsorbent in hydrogels for water retention. Also applied in pharmaceuticals as a matrix material in controlled drug delivery systems due to its ability to swell and respond to pH changes.