Business Segment Information - Segment Operating Results (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015 segment	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments \| segment				4
Revenues:
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments		$ (41)	$ 5,603	$ 5,133	$ 22,019
Consulting services		665	1,499	1,349	3,521
Royalties		3,273	2,275	7,767	4,255
Chemicals and other		132	77	749	214
Total reported revenues		12,885	9,072	49,537	13,230
Equipment sales		12,088	7,496	47,439	9,495
Segment reporting operating income (loss)
Segment reporting operating income (loss)		(9,989)	(10,279)	(34,665)	(26,268)
Subsequent Event
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments \| segment	2
Operating Segments
Revenues:
Total reported revenues		16,976	17,562	63,708	41,054
Segment reporting operating income (loss)
Segment reporting operating income (loss)		(1,966)	4,498	(1,039)	15,693
Refined Coal \| Operating Segments
Revenues:
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments		(41)	5,603	5,133	22,019
Consulting services		0	160	55	596
Royalties		3,273	2,275	7,767	4,255
Total reported revenues		3,232	8,038	12,955	26,870
Segment reporting operating income (loss)
Segment reporting operating income (loss)		1,458	6,491	7,294	22,406
Refined Coal \| Segment Reconciling Items
Revenues:
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments		41	(5,603)	(5,133)	(22,019)
Royalties		(3,273)	(2,275)	(7,767)	(4,255)
Total reported revenues		(3,232)	(7,878)	(12,900)	(26,274)
Emissions Control - Engineering Technology Services \| Operating Segments
Revenues:
Consulting services		664	850	1,255	1,856
Chemicals and other		132	77	749	214
Total reported revenues		9,583	8,066	46,050	10,963
Equipment sales		8,787	7,139	44,046	8,893
Segment reporting operating income (loss)
Segment reporting operating income (loss)		1,394	(72)	5,839	(1,997)
Emissions Control - Manufacturing \| Operating Segments
Revenues:
Consulting services		0	490	38	1,070
Chemicals and other		0	0	0	0
Total reported revenues		3,302	846	3,432	1,671
Equipment sales		3,302	356	3,394	601
Segment reporting operating income (loss)
Segment reporting operating income (loss)		(2,402)	(1,539)	(7,772)	(3,535)
Research and Development \| Operating Segments
Revenues:
Total reported revenues		859	612	1,271	1,550
Segment reporting operating income (loss)
Segment reporting operating income (loss)		(2,416)	(382)	(6,400)	(1,181)
Research and Development \| Segment Reconciling Items
Revenues:
Total reported revenues		$ (859)	$ (612)	$ (1,271)	$ (1,550)

Revenue derived from sale of coal and related products. Also includes rendering of services and selling of products for exploration, development, mining, and processing, as well as supporting activities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a),(d))
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
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-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

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