Widely used in industrial water treatment systems, particularly in cooling water and boiler applications, to prevent scale formation and corrosion. It acts as a scale inhibitor, effectively controlling the formation of mineral salts such as calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate, and chelates metal ions like calcium, magnesium, and iron. This makes it ideal for high-hardness, high-temperature, and closed systems, where it also enhances other chemicals for corrosion control and microbial growth prevention. Additionally, it improves detergent performance by sequestering hardness ions for better cleaning efficiency and is employed in pulp and paper processing to stabilize bleaching agents and prevent metal-catalyzed degradation. Its biodegradability and low toxicity suit environmentally sensitive applications.