Financial Information By Segment (Schedule of Income (Loss) Before Taxes for Unallocated and Other) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ (11)		$ (9)		$ (30)		$ (29)
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies	4		2		8		6
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of affiliated companies	78	[1]	62	[1]	209	[1]	156	[1]
Unallocated and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	(11)		(9)		(30)		(29)
Total certain items, pre-tax	(7)	[2]	(5)	[2]	(21)	[2]	(16)	[2]
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies	(4)	[3]	(2)	[3]	(8)	[3]	(6)	[3]
Unallocated corporate costs	(12)	[4]	(13)	[4]	(44)	[4]	(40)	[4]
General unallocated income (expense)	3	[5]	(15)	[5]	(1)	[5]	(28)	[5]
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net earnings of affiliated companies	$ (31)	[1]	$ (44)	[1]	$ (104)	[1]	$ (119)	[1]

[1] Unallocated and Other includes certain items and eliminations that are not allocated to the operating segments. Management does not consider these items necessary for an understanding of the operating results of these segments and such amounts are excluded in the segment reporting to the Chief Operating Decision Maker.

[2] Certain items are items that management does not consider to be representative of segment results and they are, therefore, excluded from segment EBIT. Certain items, pre-tax, for the three months ended June 30, 2012 include costs associated with the acquisition of Norit of $5 million as discussed in Note O and global restructuring charges of $2 million as discussed in Note I. Certain items, pre-tax, for the nine months ended June 30, 2012 include costs associated with the acquisition of Norit of $5 million as discussed in Note O, global restructuring charges of $14 million as discussed in Note I and $2 million for environmental reserves and legal settlements. Certain items, pre-tax, for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2011 primarily relate to global restructuring charges as discussed in Note I.

[3] Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies is included in segment EBIT and is removed from Unallocated and Other to reconcile to segment EBIT.

[4] Unallocated corporate costs are not controlled by the segments and primarily benefit corporate interests.

[5] General unallocated expense consists of gain (losses) arising from foreign currency transactions, net of other foreign currency risk management activities, the impact of accounting for certain inventory on a LIFO basis, and the profit or loss related to the corporate adjustment for unearned revenue.