extraction/isolation of Curcumin from Turmeric using ethanol
In their open access article Optimization of the extraction of curcumin from Curcuma longa rhizomes, published in Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, 2013, 23, 94-100, the authors systematically examined the effect of various parameters on the extraction yield, namely


drug to solvent weight ratio (1/6 and 1/4 g/g)
agitation speed (30 and 70 rpm)
extraction time (12 and 24 h)
extraction temperature (50 and 80 °C)
ethanolic strength (70 and 90 % v/v)


Based on their analysis, the following optimum conditions were seemingly predicted:


drug to solvent weight ratio: 1/6 g/g
agitation speed: 30 rpm
extraction time: (12 and 24 h
extraction temperature: 80 °C
ethanolic strength: 70% v/v


Please have a look at the full article for further details.



Edit


  I need to know how to safely set up a basic distillation to recover the ethanol for reuse.


That is a rather fundamental question which suggests that you don't have a lot of experience in organic benchwork.

You might want to have a look at the English wikipedia page on distillation for the general setup.

Note that you will not be able to fully separate ethanol and water by destillation. Instead, you will obtain an azeotrope, a mixture that has a boiling point lower than that of ethanol and water. In order to check the density of your destillate and to dilute again to an ethanolic strength suitable for extraction, a hydrometer might be a suitable tool.

In terms of lab safety, the following points should be considered:


Do not work alone!
Ethanol vapour is flammable! 


Keep open flames and electric sparks away.
Run your still in a well-vented place.
Have a fire extinguisher at hand.
Have a work space with an unblocked emergency exit.

If you use standard lab glassware, a stirrer and an oil bath to heat the still pot, make sure that the tubes for the cooling water that cools your condenser are properly secured by wire or clamps. Remember that the heating bath is hot! The last thing that you want is cooling water splashing into the hot silicone oil.


On a lab scale, I would would not set up a classical distillation apparatus, but remove (and collect the ethanol) at reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator with a water bath!  


In any case, use suitable eye protection!