Nucleic Acid Precipitation: Facilitates DNA and RNA precipitation with ethanol or isopropanol for cleanup and concentration.

DNA/RNA Extraction: Adjusts pH and ionic strength during phenol–chloroform extraction and gel purification workflows.

Cation-Exchange Chromatography: Provides acidic buffering for protein binding and elution on cation exchangers.

Enzyme Assays: Maintains pH ~6 for enzymes with acidic optima, supporting reliable activity measurements.

HPLC Mobile Phases: Serves as an aqueous buffer component for biomolecule separations at acidic pH (UV detection).

Preparation of Acetate-Based Electrophoresis Buffers: Used to make Tris–acetate buffers (e.g., TAE) for agarose gel electrophoresis.

Histology Staining: Provides acetate buffer for procedures such as PAS and Alcian Blue staining.