Used primarily as a chelating agent to treat heavy metal poisoning, particularly lead, mercury, and arsenic. It binds to toxic metals in the body, forming stable complexes that are then excreted through urine, reducing metal toxicity. It is also employed in environmental cleanup processes to remove heavy metals from contaminated soil and water. In research, it serves as a reagent for studying metal ion interactions and detoxification mechanisms. Additionally, it has potential applications in nanotechnology for synthesizing metal nanoparticles due to its ability to stabilize and control particle size.