The work aims to improve separation capacity of ceramic membrane to oil/water emulsion. Cellulose powder was fully dissolved in the solution of sodium hydroxide, urea and water, hydrophilic cellulose coating was constructed on porous ceramic membrane in vacuum at low temperature. Composition, structure, surface wettability and separation efficiency of water-in-oil (toluene) emulsion was characterized with X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM), contact angle measuring instrument and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The cellulose was successfully compounded into surfaces of porous ceramic membrane pores. Contact angle of water droplets on the membrane in air was 0°, and that of oil droplets in water was up to 155°, which endowed porous ceramic membrane with super-hydrophilicity in air and underwater super-lipophobicity. Oil-water separation experiment showed that the porous ceramic membrane exhibited high efficiency in separating toluene-in-water emulsion at normal temperature and pressure. Its oil-water separation capability (> 99.26%) and anti-fouling performance (water flux of three composite flat ceramic membrane changed slightly after separation for 20 times) were improved significantly. The membrane showed good oil-water separation performance. Surface hydro- philicity and underwater super-lipophobicity of ceramic separation membrane are improved by cellulose modification. The oil-water separation capability reaches 99.26%, and pure water flux exhibits no obvious attenuation after repeated use for 20 times.