Percentage of Our Consolidated Revenues Attributed to Customers (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Fine Chemicals Customer One [Member]
Entity Wide Portfolio Carrying Amount, Major Customer [Line Items]
Entity-Wide Revenue, Major Customer, Percentage	31.00%	23.00%	23.00%
Fine Chemicals Customer Two [Member]
Entity Wide Portfolio Carrying Amount, Major Customer [Line Items]
Entity-Wide Revenue, Major Customer, Percentage	12.00%
Specialty Chemicals Customer [Member]
Entity Wide Portfolio Carrying Amount, Major Customer [Line Items]
Entity-Wide Revenue, Major Customer, Percentage	17.00%		17.00%
Specialty Chemicals Customer Two [Member]
Entity Wide Portfolio Carrying Amount, Major Customer [Line Items]
Entity-Wide Revenue, Major Customer, Percentage	12.00%	24.00%	18.00%