Government Grants	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Government Grants [Abstract]
Government Grants	20. Government Grants The Company's policy for accounting for government grants, including non-monetary grants at fair value, is to recognize them only when there is reasonable assurance that (a) the Company will comply with the conditions attached to the grants and (b) the grants will be received. A grant will be recognized as income over the period necessary to match it to the related costs, for which it is intended to compensate, on a systematic basis. Grants related to assets are presented by deducting them from the asset's carrying amount. A grant related to income will be deducted from the related expense. The Company entered into an agreement with the Administrative Committee of Suzhou Wuzhong Economic Development Zone, located in Suzhou, China, by which the Company agreed to establish a wholly foreign-owned company, Calgon Carbon (Suzhou) Company Limited, in Hedong Hi-Tech Industrial Park in Suzhou Wuzhong Economic Development Zone with the business of carbon reactivation. The Company has been awarded a one-time incentive of CNY13.96 million or $2.2 million, a Science and Technology Aid Fund ("aid fund"), to support the project. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company received aforementioned grant and recognized it as a deduction from the carrying amount of the property, plant and equipment on its Consolidated Balance Sheet.

20. Government Grants

The Company's policy for accounting for government grants, including non-monetary grants at fair value, is to recognize them only when there is reasonable assurance that (a) the Company will comply with the conditions attached to the grants and (b) the grants will be received. A grant will be recognized as income over the period necessary to match it to the related costs, for which it is intended to compensate, on a systematic basis. Grants related to assets are presented by deducting them from the asset's carrying amount. A grant related to income will be deducted from the related expense.

The Company entered into an agreement with the Administrative Committee of Suzhou Wuzhong Economic Development Zone, located in Suzhou, China, by which the Company agreed to establish a wholly foreign-owned company, Calgon Carbon (Suzhou) Company Limited, in Hedong Hi-Tech Industrial Park in Suzhou Wuzhong Economic Development Zone with the business of carbon reactivation. The Company has been awarded a one-time incentive of CNY13.96 million or $2.2 million, a Science and Technology Aid Fund ("aid fund"), to support the project. For the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company received aforementioned grant and recognized it as a deduction from the carrying amount of the property, plant and equipment on its Consolidated Balance Sheet.