In present study involving castor oil hydrolysis catalyzed by porcine pancreas lipase, organic solvent, and ionic liquid were applied to augment production of ricinoleic acid. Toluene was the best organic solvent (30.18% hydrolysis in 2 h). In presence of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]), an ionic liquid, the optimal conditions were, 0.12 g ionic liquid/g oil, 4 mg enzyme/g oil, 2 g buffer/g oil, pH of 8, and 2.5 h. Under this condition, ricinoleic acid recovery was 43.41 and 52% at 25 °C and 35 °C, respectively. Organic solvent concentration, enzyme concentration, buffer concentration and time had significant impacts on lipase catalyzed hydrolysis in the presence of organic liquid; whereas, pH and speed remained insignificant. In hydrolysis involving ionic liquid, time had most important effect on ricinoleic acid production. Interaction between enzyme and buffer concentration was most significant. Interactions of ionic liquid concentration with all other variables were also significant besides buffer concentration–time interaction. © 2019, © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.