Widely used as a non-ionic surfactant in industrial and laboratory applications, this chemical effectively reduces surface tension in solutions. It is commonly employed in detergents, emulsifiers, and wetting agents for textile processing, leather treatment, and pesticide formulations. Its ability to stabilize emulsions makes it valuable in agrochemical products, where it helps disperse active ingredients evenly. In molecular biology, it is used in cell lysis buffers and protein extraction due to its membrane-disrupting properties. It also finds use in cleaning agents for semiconductor manufacturing and as a dispersing agent in coatings and inks. However, due to environmental concerns related to its degradation products, its use is restricted in some regions.