Widely used as a non-ionic surfactant, Triton X-100 is commonly applied in biological and biochemical research for cell lysis and membrane protein extraction due to its ability to disrupt lipid bilayers while keeping certain proteins functional. It is frequently included in washing and blocking buffers during immunoassays like Western blotting and ELISA to reduce non-specific binding. In industrial settings, it serves as a wetting, emulsifying, and dispersing agent in coatings, inks, and agricultural formulations. Its effectiveness in solubilizing hydrophobic compounds makes it valuable in environmental studies for extracting contaminants from soil and water samples. However, due to its toxicity and poor biodegradability, it is being phased out in some applications in favor of more environmentally friendly alternatives.