The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a silicate comprising at least silicon and oxygen, comprising (1) mixing of silicon dioxide and/or of a silicon dioxide precursor with an aqueous solution comprising at least one tetraalkylammonium compound comprising R1R2R3R4N+ and at least one base, wherein R1 and R2 are methyl and both R3 and R4 are n-propyl; (2) heating of the colloidal solution obtained according to (1) to a temperature in the range of from greater than the boiling point of the colloidal solution under the chosen pressure to 180° C. at atmospheric pressure to give a suspension comprising at least one silicate, wherein the silicate comprising at least silicon and oxygen is added as a crystallization auxiliary in (1).