The first amount payable after conversion of debt premium to fixed amount.

No definition available.

Name:	cdti_DebtInstrumentFirstPayableAmountOnConversionOfDebtPremiumToFixedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	cdti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The payment premium due converted to a fixed amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cdti_DebtInstrumentPaymentPremiumConvertedToFixedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	cdti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Premium Payment to be made proportionally on the number of days that the loan remains outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cdti_DebtInstrumentPremiumPayment
Namespace Prefix:	cdti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Agreed amount of initial contribution by the parties towards the capital as per the joint venture agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cdti_JointVentureAgreementInitialCapitalContributionAmount
Namespace Prefix:	cdti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the percentage of holdings in the issued share capital of the joint venture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cdti_PercentageOfShareHoldinglInJointVenture
Namespace Prefix:	cdti_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 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 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of debt premium that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedPremium
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Subsequent Events (Detail)	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
Subsequent Events (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2012 Subsequent Event [Member] Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] 6% Shareholder Note Due 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] 6% Shareholder Note Due 2013 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] 8% Shareholder Note Due 2015 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Subsequent Event [Member] Scenario, Forecast [Member] 6% Shareholder Note Due 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Scenario, Forecast [Member] 8% Shareholder Note Due 2015 [Member]	Feb. 19, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Corporate Joint Venture [Member] USD ($)	Feb. 19, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Corporate Joint Venture [Member] EUR (€)	Jun. 30, 2015 Subsequent Event [Member] 6% Shareholder Note Due 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] 6% Shareholder Note Due 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] 6% Shareholder Note Due 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] 8% Subordinated Convertible Shareholder Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Apr. 11, 2011 Subsequent Event [Member] 8% Subordinated Convertible Shareholder Notes Due 2016 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 6% Shareholder Note Due 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2013 6% Shareholder Note Due 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2011 6% Shareholder Note Due 2013 [Member]	Jul. 27, 2012 8% Shareholder Note Due 2015 [Member]
Share Holding in Joint Venture, Percentage						50.00%	50.00%
Joint Venture Agreement, Initial Capital Contribution Amount (in Euro)						$ 67,000	€ 50,000
Joint Venture Agreement, Initial Capital Contribution Amount						67,000	50,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.00%	8.00%		8.00%						8.00%	8.00%		6.00%	6.00%	8.00%
Debt Instrument Premium Payment	100,000			200,000
Debt Instrument Payment Premium Converted To Fixed Amount										250,000				250,000
Debt Instrument First Payable Amount On Conversion Of Debt Premium To Fixed Amount									100,000				100,000
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium								$ 150,000