Thermally shock-resistant chemically bonded agglomerates suitable for use as a combustible fuel or in a gasification process are produced by:(a) mixing particulate organic material comprising particulate carbonaceous fuel and/or animal excrement (such as dewatered comminuted sewage sludge) with a lignosulfonate, in the presence of water, with application of heat sufficient to maintain the lignosulfonate in fluid form, so as to deposit a film of lignosulfonate over the surface of the particulate material;(b) oxidatively conditioning the lignosulfonate coated particulate material under conditions permitting escape of water present in the mixed particulate material, the conditioning either being in the presence of calcium ions or being followed by mixing the conditioned particulate material with lime; and(c) shaping the resulting free-flowing plastic mixture under pressure, to form the thermally shock-resistant agglomerates.