Business and Geographic Segments - Segment Operating Performance (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 400.1	$ 448.2	$ 516.1	$ 499.2	$ 427.4	$ 508.7	$ 568.4	$ 582.8	$ 1,863.6		$ 2,087.3		$ 2,025.1
Cost of sales									1,729.4		1,512.1		1,278.4
Gross margin	55.5	48.6	17.2	12.9	55.3	97.4	162.1	260.4	134.2		575.2		746.7
Operating income (loss)	(4.2)	(42.5)	(46.8)	(45.2)	(2.2)	41.1	103.2	203.3	(138.7)		345.4		521.4
Equity in earnings of joint venture									0.5		(0.2)		(0.5)
Securities earnings									26.6		50.2		28.6
Insurance recoveries									9.4		3.3		16.9
Litigation settlement gain											14.7
Gain on sale of excess property											3.2
Goodwill impairment											(6.4)
Gain on bargain purchase and remeasurement of existing investment in acquiree									54.6
General expenses, net									(105.3)		(45.3)		(40.7)
Loss on prepayment of debt, net									(8.9)		(7.2)		(3.1)
Interest expense									(56.1)		(56.3)		(61.8)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(217.9)		301.4		460.8
Depreciation and amortization									74.5		69.4		63.8
Capital expenditures									74.6		98.8		146.2
Chemicals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									1,732.4		1,976.3		1,943.3
Cost of sales									1,622.6		1,418.2		1,197.5
Gross margin									109.8		558.1		745.8
Operating income (loss)									(125.4)		366.8		553.0
Depreciation and amortization									52.8		50.4		50.2
Capital expenditures									67.6		74.9		68.6
Component products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									92.0		83.2		79.8
Cost of sales									64.5		58.9		55.6
Gross margin									27.5		24.3		24.2
Operating income (loss)									9.3		5.4		6.4
Depreciation and amortization									3.3	[1]	5.8	[1]	6.8	[1]
Capital expenditures									3.5	[1]	4.3	[1]	3.2	[1]
Waste management
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									39.2		27.8		2.0
Cost of sales									42.3		35.0		25.3
Gross margin									(3.1)		(7.2)		(23.3)
Operating income (loss)									(22.6)		(26.8)		(38.0)
Depreciation and amortization									18.4		13.2		6.8
Capital expenditures									3.5		19.6		74.3
Corporate segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity in earnings of joint venture									0.5		(0.2)		(0.5)
Capital expenditures													$ 0.1

[1] Includes discontinued operations for 2011 and 2012, see Note 3.