v2.4.0.8

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2014 OEM Customer [Member] Catalyst [Member] Sales Revenue, Net [Member] Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 OEM Customer [Member] Catalyst [Member] Sales Revenue, Net [Member] Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Sep. 30, 2014 OEM Customer [Member] Catalyst [Member] Sales Revenue, Net [Member] Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Sep. 30, 2013 OEM Customer [Member] Catalyst [Member] Sales Revenue, Net [Member] Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Dec. 31, 2013 OEM Customer [Member] Accounts Receivable [Member] Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Sep. 30, 2014 OEM Customer [Member] Accounts Receivable [Member] Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Sep. 30, 2014 Maximum [Member] | Sep. 30, 2014 Minimum [Member] | Sep. 30, 2014 Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost Method Investment Ownership Percentage Description |  |  | 20% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% | 20.00% |
Concentration Risk, Percentage |  |  |  |  |  | 60.00% | 46.00% | 50.00% | 45.00% | 26.00% | 65.00% |  |  | 10.00%
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount (in Shares) | 2.4 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 2.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes Payable, Fair Value Disclosure (in Dollars) | $ 7.6 |  | $ 7.6 |  | $ 7.5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the cost method of accounting. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cdti_CostMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageDescription
Namespace Prefix: | cdti_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Antidilution -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505113 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Diluted Earnings Per Share -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510752 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Contingent Stock Agreement -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6508534 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13537-108611 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6404-108592 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13531-108611 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 18 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6351-108592 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value portion of notes payable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant