Used as a non-ionic surfactant in biological research for cell lysis and membrane protein extraction. Commonly included in washing buffers during immunoassays like Western blotting and ELISA to reduce non-specific binding. Helps solubilize proteins and disrupt lipid membranes without denaturing most proteins. Also used in nucleic acid purification protocols to stabilize enzymes and prevent surface adsorption. Its low UV absorbance makes it suitable for applications requiring optical clarity. Replaces the original Nonidet P-40 in many molecular biology and immunology workflows due to similar performance and improved consistency.