Sodium borate buffer is widely used in biochemical and molecular biology applications due to its ability to maintain a stable pH, typically in the range of 8.0 to 9.5. It is commonly employed in electrophoresis, especially for DNA and RNA separation in agarose gel systems. The buffer facilitates consistent migration of nucleic acids by providing optimal ionic strength and pH conditions.

It is also used in hybridization techniques such as Southern and Northern blotting, where it helps maintain the environment needed for probe binding. In enzyme assays, sodium borate buffer supports the activity of enzymes that function best under alkaline conditions, including certain phosphatases and dehydrogenases.

Additionally, it plays a role in protein purification and analysis, particularly in procedures involving borate affinity interactions, such as the isolation of glycoproteins and nucleotide-binding proteins. Its compatibility with various detection methods makes it suitable for use in microplate assays and spectrophotometric analyses.

In industrial applications, sodium borate buffer is used in cleaning solutions and preservatives, where pH stability and mild antimicrobial properties are beneficial.