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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)
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1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 69 Months Ended | 78 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2007
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2011
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Dec. 23, 2010
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Jul. 13, 2007
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Dec. 31, 2011
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2010
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Securities Investor Protection Corporation [Member]
Cash [Member]
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Dec. 31, 2011
Securities Investor Protection Corporation [Member]
Per Customer [Member]
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Mar. 28, 2012
Convertible Promissory Note [Member]
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Aug. 31, 2007
Convertible Promissory Note [Member]
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Jul. 13, 2007
Accredited Investors [Member]
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Jul. 13, 2007
Chief Financial Officer [Member]
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Sep. 30, 2012
Stock Option
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Sep. 30, 2011
Stock Option
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Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Option
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Dec. 31, 2010
Stock Option
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Sep. 30, 2012
Warrants
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Sep. 30, 2011
Warrants
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Dec. 31, 2011
Warrants
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Dec. 31, 2010
Warrants
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Sep. 30, 2012
Convertible Notes Payable
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Sep. 30, 2012
Fulton Project
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Sep. 30, 2012
Lancaster Biorefinery
Minimum
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Sep. 30, 2012
Lancaster Biorefinery
Maximum
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| Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of stock through private placement | $ 14,500,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 544,500 | $ 544,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Working capital deficit | 2,379,000 | 2,379,000 | 1,520,000 | 1,520,000 | 2,379,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Estimated operating expenses for the next 12 months | 1,700,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of months in which current resources as well as the resources available in the short term will be sufficient | 1 month | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ownership interest in BlueFire Fulton Renewable Energy LLC sold | 1.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Research and development expenses | 129,000 | 158,000 | 420,000 | 429,000 | 14,883,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share | 1,229,659 | 3,287,159 | 1,229,659 | 3,287,159 | 6,891,534 | 6,886,694 | 7,115,275 | 6,886,694 | 2,502,000 | 300,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 125,000,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Convertible Debt | 300,000 | 2,000,000 | 500,000 | 25,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock | 15,500,000 | 35,000 | 250,000 | 350,000 | 14,710,000 | 14,745,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage Of Tax Benefit Realized Upon Settlement | 50.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number Of Accredited Investors | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash, FDIC Insured Amount | $ 250,000 | $ 100,000 | $ 500,000 | $ 100,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash Insured Repayment Period | Jan. 01, 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage Of Billed and Unbilled Grant Revenues | 100.00% | 100.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage Of Accounts Payable | 63.00% | 39.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||