Segment and Geographic Area Information Identifiable Assets and Goodwill by Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets		$ 9,615,014	$ 5,223,103	$ 3,584,797
Goodwill		2,893,811	243,262	284,203
Performance Chemicals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill		1,287,824	42,016	42,025
Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill		172,728	192,657	218,382
Chemetall Surface Treatment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill		1,433,259	0	0
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets		517,695	268,555	468,147
Goodwill		0	8,589	23,796
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	[1]	593,655	2,768,941	750,859
Operating Segments | Performance Chemicals
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets		4,358,598	1,085,246	1,148,478
Goodwill		1,287,824	42,016	42,025
Operating Segments | Refining Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets		937,445	1,100,361	1,217,313
Goodwill		172,728	192,657	218,382
Operating Segments | Chemetall Surface Treatment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets		3,207,621	0	0
Goodwill		$ 1,433,259	$ 0	$ 0

[1] As of December 31, 2014, Corporate included net proceeds received from the issuance of the 2014 Senior Notes, which, together with borrowings from our Commercial Paper Notes, August 2014 Term Loan Agreement and Cash Bridge Facility, were used to finance the cash portion of the Merger Consideration, pay related fees and expenses and repay our senior notes which matured on February 1, 2015. See Note 14, “Long-Term Debt” and Note 2, “Acquisitions” for additional details about these transactions.