v2.4.0.8

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Reconciliation of the warrant liability measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013
Reconciliation of the warrant liability measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs [Abstract] |  |
Balance at beginning of period | $ 939 | $ 10
Issuance of common stock warrants | 1,531 | 749
Exercise of common stock warrants | (2,505) |
Remeasurement of common stock warrants | 945 | 151
Balance at end of period | $ 910 | $ 910

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- Definition Increase in additional paid in capital due to warrants exercised during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | cdti_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Issuance of common stock warrants. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | cdti_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | cdti_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Amount of expense (income) related to adjustment to fair value of warrant liability. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6939902&loc=d3e20148-110875 + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Fair value of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant