Used primarily as a surfactant and anionic detergent in industrial and laboratory applications. It is effective in emulsification, dispersion, and wetting processes due to its long hydrophobic chain and hydrophilic sulfate group. Commonly employed in the preparation of micellar solutions for cleaning formulations, textile processing, and as a component in some personal care products. Also utilized in analytical chemistry for ion-exchange and separation techniques. Its strong surface-active properties make it suitable for use in enhanced oil recovery methods and in the synthesis of nanostructured materials.