Triton X-100 is a non-ionic surfactant with high stability and good compatibility with other types of surfactants. It is used in chemical, textile, water treatment and other industrial fields. It is also used in life sciences and in vitro diagnostics.

Triton X-100 has a hydrophilic end and a hydrophobic end. On the one hand, it does not dissociate in water. It has high stability in solution, is not easily affected by strong electrolyte inorganic salts, and can be combined with phospholipids and other lipids in biofilms.  on the other hand, the hydrophobic end can also combine with the hydrophobic region of the membrane protein to form a complex and dissolve in the solution. Therefore, Triton X-100 is often used to help separate proteases in water, for nucleic acid extraction and preparation of in vitro diagnostic reagents.