Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	$ 0.1	$ 0.2
FGI Facility [Member]
Debt (Details) [Line Items]
Pledged Assets Accounts Receivable Pledged as Collateral Gross Value	2.8
Borrowings Outstanding Amount Against Pledged Accounts Receivable	1.9
Borrowings Outstanding Amount Against Pleged Inventory	1.2
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 7.5

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date against pledged accounts receivable.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date against pledged inventory.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	cdti_DebtDetailsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	cdti_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The gross value, as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, of accounts receivable which are owned but transferred to serve as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cdti_PledgedAssetsAccountsReceivablePledgedAsCollateralGrossValue
Namespace Prefix:	cdti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of debt discount 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=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=cdti_FGIFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: