Used as a non-ionic surfactant in laboratory and industrial applications, particularly in electrophoresis for solubilizing proteins and membrane components. Commonly added to washing and blocking buffers in immunoassays like Western blotting to reduce non-specific binding. Also utilized in cell lysis buffers to extract proteins while maintaining their native structure. Its mild detergency makes it suitable for applications requiring gentle disruption of lipid membranes. Widely used in pharmaceutical formulations and cosmetics as an emulsifier and stabilizer due to its low toxicity and good solubilizing properties.