Stearic acid
In industry, it is mainly used to sequester metal ions in aqueous solution.
In the textile industry, it prevents mental ion impurities from modifying colours of dyed products.
In the pulp and paper industry, it is used in "chlorine-free bleaching. "
In similar manner, it is added to some food as preservative or stabilizer to prevent catalytic oxidative decolouration.
In personal care products, it is added to cosmetics to improve their stability toward air.
In soft drinks containing ascorbic and sodium benzoate, it mitigates formation of benzene (a carcinogen).
In Medicine, it is used to bind metal ions in chelation therapy, e. g., formercury mercury (performs poorly) and lead poisoning.
In the laboratory, it is widely used for scavenging metal ions