Photocatalytic transfer hydrogenation of aromatic and aliphaticketones by using TiO₂ and homemade TiO₂ doped with palladium by deposition-precipitation method (Pd/TiO₂) in a batch reactor under UV light has been studied. Different photocatalytic tests have been performed by using ethanol as electron and hydrogen donor and water/ethanol solution to obtain data on the reaction parameters. The results found, using the ethanol solution, showed acetophenone conversion, selectivity and yield higher than in the in water/ethanol solution (50/50 v/v). The highest acetophenone conversion was obtained by using Pd/TiO₂ under UV light. For butanone the best results (as conversion, selectivity and yield) were obtained by using Pd/TiO₂.The values of butanone conversion and the yield to butanol increased almost six times more than the commercial TiO₂. Pure ethanol was better than the water-formic acid as both solvent and electron-hydrogen donor. Some considerations on using in perspective these data on a photocatalytic membrane reactor are also reported.