Used as a deicing agent on airport runways and roads, especially where environmental concerns limit the use of chloride-based salts. It is effective at low temperatures and helps prevent ice formation without causing significant corrosion to infrastructure or damage to vegetation.

Also employed in the food industry as a buffering agent and preservative, contributing to pH control in various processed foods and beverages, while inhibiting microbial growth and extending shelf life.

In pharmaceuticals, it serves as an electrolyte replenisher in intravenous fluids to treat low potassium levels and as a pH control agent in drug and bioproduct manufacturing to maintain acid-base stability.

Additionally, it functions as a catalyst or reagent in organic synthesis, particularly in acetylation reactions and the production of other acetate esters. In laboratory research, it is used in biomolecule separation via chromatography and as a component of buffers in molecular biology experiments.

Further applications include use as an antifreeze in fire extinguishing solutions to lower the freezing point of water for low-temperature performance, and in wastewater treatment as a carbon source for microorganisms that degrade organic matter, enhancing treatment efficiency.