A cell recycle reactor was employed to study the rate of death in E. coli under glucose starvation. Hollow fibers were used for the microfiltration of the media. Oxygen was supplied through silicone tubing which was fabricated in the form of a heat exchanger. Cell broth was recycled through the inside of the hollow fibers and the silicone tubing. Model equations for oxygen transport were solved to predict the oxygen provision to the starved cells. Oxygenation experiments were performed to test this model. Batch culture of the starved cells was conducted and the results were compared with that of the recycled culture. As the difference in the rate of death in the batch culture and the recycled culture was insignificant, it was deduced the secretion from the dying cells did not influence the metabolism of the starved cells to any detectable extent.