Used primarily as a chelating agent in various industrial and laboratory processes. It effectively binds to metal ions, making it valuable in water treatment to prevent scale formation and corrosion. In the medical field, it is utilized in certain diagnostic procedures to stabilize metal ions in blood samples. Additionally, it plays a role in agriculture as a component in fertilizers to enhance nutrient uptake by plants. Its ability to sequester metal ions also finds applications in cleaning products and detergent formulations, improving their efficiency.