Business Restructuring and Asset Impairments - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Employees	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Employees
2016 Restructuring [Member] | Longford Mills [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Business restructuring			$ 2,817,000
2016 Restructuring [Member] | Longford Mills [Member] | Termination Benefits [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Business restructuring			$ 1,594,000
2016 Restructuring [Member] | Longford Mills [Member] | Surfactants [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Number positions eliminated | Employees			30
Depreciation expense			$ 4,471,000
2016 Restructuring [Member] | Longford Mills [Member] | Surfactants [Member] | Termination Benefits [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Business restructuring			2,817,000
2016 Restructuring [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Longford Mills [Member] | Surfactants [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring expenses	$ 4,000,000		4,000,000
2016 Restructuring [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Longford Mills [Member] | Surfactants [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Expected restructuring expenses	4,500,000		4,500,000
2016 Asset Impairments [Member] | Surfactants [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges	4,247,000
2016 Asset Impairments [Member] | United States [Member] | Nonionic Surfactants [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges	2,297,000
2016 Asset Impairments [Member] | Brazil [Member] | Bahia Plant
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges	$ 1,950,000
2016 Asset Impairments [Member] | Brazil [Member] | Bahia Plant | Take-Or-Pay Contract [Member] | Net Sales [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Compensation for lost future revenues			$ 4,250,000
2014 Restructuring [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Business restructuring		$ 1,722,000		$ 1,722,000
Number positions eliminated | Employees				13
2014 Asset Impairments [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges		2,287,000		$ 2,287,000
2014 Asset Impairments [Member] | Singapore [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges		1,316,000
2014 Asset Impairments [Member] | Millsdale, Illinois, Plant [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges		714,000
2014 Asset Impairments [Member] | United Kingdom [Member]
Restructuring Cost And Reserve [Line Items]
Asset impairment charges		$ 257,000