Lipase immobilization on alumina membranes using a traditional and a nature-inspired method for active degradation of oil fouling

•Lipase Eversa Transform 2.0 (ET2) was immobilized in a ceramic membrane.•Traditional immobilization by silanization was compared to polydopamine coating.•The use of polydopamine resulted in the higher membrane hydrolytic activity.•Immobilized ET2 acted as fouling-degrading agent during oil–water separation.•Immobilized ET2 provided self-cleaning property to the membrane.