Used extensively as a chelating agent in various industries, it effectively binds metal ions, making it valuable in water treatment processes to prevent scale formation and corrosion. In the food industry, it acts as a preservative by stabilizing color, texture, and flavor by sequestering metal ions that cause oxidation. It is also employed in pharmaceuticals to enhance the stability and shelf life of products by chelating metal contaminants. In medical applications, it is used in blood collection tubes as an anticoagulant by binding calcium ions. Additionally, it finds use in cosmetics to improve product stability and prevent spoilage caused by metal ions.