Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Industry Segments (Narrative) (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Industry Segments (Narrative) (Details)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
subsidiaries
segments
Entitiies
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Entitiies
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Entitiies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Number of Reportable Segments | segments 2    
Goodwill $ 6,003,525 $ 1,354,730  
Goodwill impairment $ 0 0 $ 17,158,249
Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Number of subsidiaries (subsidiaries) | subsidiaries 3    
Goodwill $ 4,648,795 0 0
Goodwill impairment $ 0 0 17,158,249
Concentration risk (percentage) 80.00%    
Number of suppliers (entities) | Entitiies 9    
Number of suppliers providing majority of supplies (entities) | Entitiies 1    
Specialty Chemicals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Number of subsidiaries (subsidiaries) | subsidiaries 2    
Goodwill $ 1,354,730 1,354,730  
Concentration risk (percentage) 52.00%    
Number of suppliers providing majority of supplies (entities) | Entitiies 15    
Corporate [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Environmental charges $ 37,748 $ 48,000 $ 1,332
Supplier One [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Concentration risk (percentage) 40.00%    
Revenue [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Concentration risk (percentage)     14.00%
Revenue [Member] | Specialty Chemicals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Concentration risk (percentage) 23.00% 25.00% 31.00%
United States [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Number of major customers (entities) | Entitiies 0 0 1
United States [Member] | Specialty Chemicals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Number of major customers (entities) | Entitiies 1 1 1
BRISMET, Palmer and Specialty [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Ownership percentage of subsidiary (percent) 100.00%    
Manufacturers Soap and Chemical Company [Member] | Specialty Chemicals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Ownership percentage of subsidiary (percent) 100.00%    
Maximum [Member] | Revenue [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]      
Concentration risk (percentage) 10.00% 10.00%