Used primarily in the medical field as a phosphate binder for patients with chronic kidney disease, helping to bind phosphate from ingested food and reduce its absorption into the bloodstream, thereby lowering blood phosphate levels.

It is also utilized in the food industry as a preservative and buffer, enhancing shelf life and controlling pH in various processed foods and beverages, such as sauces, salad dressings, and canned foods.

In industrial applications, it serves as a mordant in dyeing processes for textiles and leather. It is used in the production of paints and printing inks to control chemical precipitation. Additionally, it functions as a component in cement additives to modify setting properties and in wastewater treatment for phosphorus removal.