A growth inhibitory model with SOx influenced effective growth rate for estimation of algal biomass concentration under flue gas atmosphere

•Algal growth modeling in presence of flue gas conditions•Prediction of biomass concentration•Critical SO42- concentration•Interference of SO42- on relative abundance of HCO3•Effective growth rate and its effect on biomass concentration A theoretical model for the prediction of biomass concentration under rice husk flue gas emission has been developed. The growth inhibitory model (GIM) considers the CO2 mass transfer rate, the critical SOx concentration and its role in pH-based inter-conversion of bicarbonate. The calibration and subsequent validation of the growth profile of Nannochloropsis limnetica at 2% and 10% (v/v) CO2 showed that the predicted values were consistent with the measured values, with r2 being 0.96 and 0.98, respectively, and p