Financial Information by Segment - Schedule of Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Taxes for Unallocated and Other (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ (14)		$ (16)
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies, net of tax	(2)		(3)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliated companies	108	[1]	41	[1]
Certain Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Foreign currency exchange rate, re measurement income (loss)	6
Unallocated and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	(14)		(16)
Total certain items, pre-tax	24	[2]	(20)	[2]
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies, net of tax	(2)	[3]	(3)	[3]
Unallocated corporate costs	(13)	[4]	(12)	[4]
General unallocated income			3	[5]
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliated companies	$ (5)	[1]	$ (48)	[1]

[1] Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes that are categorized as Unallocated and Other includes:

[2] Certain items are items that management does not consider to be representative of operating segment results and they are, therefore, excluded from Segment EBIT. Certain items, pre-tax, for the three months ended December 31, 2013 include $5 million related to global restructuring activities, $5 million for acquisition and integration-related charges (consisting of $3 million for certain other one-time integration costs and $2 million of additional charges related to acquisition accounting adjustments for the acquired inventory of NHUMO) and $1 million for environmental matters offset by $6 million of foreign currency gain on revaluation of the GAM Notes and a $29 million non-cash gain recognized on the Company's pre-existing investment in NHUMO as a result of the NHUMO transaction. Certain items, pre-tax, for the three months ended December 31, 2012 include $6 million related to global restructuring activities and $14 million for acquisition and integration-related charges (consisting of $3 million for certain other one-time integration costs and $11 million of additional charges related to acquisition accounting adjustments for inventory acquired in the Norit transaction).

[3] Equity in earnings of affiliated companies, net of tax, is included in Segment EBIT and is removed from Unallocated and other to reconcile to income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes.

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

[5] General unallocated income consists of gains (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, the profit or loss related to the corporate adjustment for unearned revenue, and the impact of including the full operating results of an equity affiliate in Purification Solutions Segment EBIT.