Used as a surfactant in various industrial and laboratory applications, particularly in liquid chromatography. It enhances the separation of hydrophobic compounds by improving their solubility in the mobile phase. Commonly employed in reversed-phase HPLC to analyze organic molecules, including pharmaceuticals and environmental samples. Its role as an ion-pairing agent helps in achieving better peak resolution and retention times. Additionally, it finds use in detergent formulations and as a wetting agent in textile processing.